SI is reborn as the Abyssalized Battlecruiser USS Lexington
CC-1 (Kancolle/Kantai Collection/SI)
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Prologue
Recently I've been reading a number of Kantai Collection stories, in particular Leave Her Johnny [KanColle SI] , A Lion in Winter (Kancolle SI), and Captain on Deck (Kancolle) (Complete), as well as CV12Hornet's List of Things Shipgirls Are No Longer Allowed To Do snippet fics on FFN.Net and I have had three ideas for stories running around in my head for some time, this is the first and I hope you all enjoy. Crossposted from SB.
I can vaguely remember dying, a speeding Chelsea tractor hit a patch of black ice and took out the bus stop I was waiting at, I'm oddly at peace with that.
Hey I can hear voices.
"Hello?" was my voice always that high pitched? "Is someone there?" I sound Like a girl, was I a girl before? "Please, If you can hear me, say something?"
The voices got louder, and more numerous, but remained stubbornly indistinct.
"Please... I'm lost, I can't see anything, I can... can you even hear me?
...Can anyone hear me?"
The voices grow in number, yet also grow more garbled.
"Ouch!"
Something just bit into my side!
"Ow! Stop That!"
And again further up my left side, what is happening?
"Stop-Ah! STOP!" I swat a spot on my side, then clamp my hand down on a spot on my arm, "Stop It!"
My heart stops as I feel a pulling sensation under my hand, the pain intensifying as the cutting edges around the tearing
"What Are You Doing!?"
The cutting and tearing grow more intense by the second, then something broke off.
"NO!" I screamed as the piece vanished into nothing. I wanted to escape, to get away from the invisible voices cutting at me, tearing pieces off me but I was trapped by invisible restraints.
"StopitAhstopitOWNOLEAVEMEALONE!..."
[We CaN HeLp YoU]
I blinked in surprise as my agony seemed to lessen as the clear yet slightly distorted voice spoke, before biting my lip as the pain in my arms doubled, bits of my skin were now peeling away before my eyes, "Please."
I vaguely register another, fainter voice but I wasn't paying attention, [We WiLl NeEd A MoMeNt. Be ReAdY]
I mentally braced myself even as I bit back another scream, "Please Hurry."
I flinched as something touched my face, shivering roughly as it started to spread, it was hot and cold yet neither at the same time, first my face, then I could feel it coating my hair, it went down my neck and then pouring over my shoulders.
I should probably have been more concerned, especially with the new contours of my body it was flowing over and clinging to, but all that mattered was the pain disappearing as the sensation spread, I sighed in relief and folded my arms, rubbing the places that had been in agony seconds before, it's almost like it's putting back the pieces that were torn away.
I can barely hear the second voice now, they seem distressed, or at least worried.
[We ArE AlMoSt DoNe.] the First Voice said, [ArE yOu ReAdY?]
I swallowed, suddenly nervous now the sensation reached my ankles, "Yes."
The sensation envelopes my toes, [It Is TiMe!]
I was gripped by a feeling of weightlessness yet falling, I closed my eyes and braced myself for the sudden stop.
I winced as I opened my eyes, not ready for the bright light.
I looked down as I registered a weight, or weights rather, resting on my folded arms, my field of view framed by waist length hair of a distinctly Targaryen shade of blonde.
I have Boobs.
Big, perky and surprisingly sensitive Boobs, that leave an otherwise full sized sailor suit shirt as basically a crop top.
The Gravity of this fact is driven home as I shift my weight nervously, nicely toned thighs rub together smoothly and highlight the absence of a certain floppy appendage.
I glance up and see I'm not alone, my nerves ratchet a notch as I take in the predatory gaze of my audience.
=========================================================================================================
It was Dark, Cold... I don't know how I knew this, I can't see, hear, feel, touch or taste anything... yet I know that there's nothing for my senses to find. I don't know how long I stayed there, there was no sense of time here.
I can vaguely remember dying, a speeding Chelsea tractor hit a patch of black ice and took out the bus stop I was waiting at, I'm oddly at peace with that.
Hey I can hear voices.
"Hello?" was my voice always that high pitched? "Is someone there?" I sound Like a girl, was I a girl before? "Please, If you can hear me, say something?"
The voices got louder, and more numerous, but remained stubbornly indistinct.
"Please... I'm lost, I can't see anything, I can... can you even hear me?
...Can anyone hear me?"
The voices grow in number, yet also grow more garbled.
"Ouch!"
Something just bit into my side!
"Ow! Stop That!"
And again further up my left side, what is happening?
"Stop-Ah! STOP!" I swat a spot on my side, then clamp my hand down on a spot on my arm, "Stop It!"
My heart stops as I feel a pulling sensation under my hand, the pain intensifying as the cutting edges around the tearing
"What Are You Doing!?"
The cutting and tearing grow more intense by the second, then something broke off.
"NO!" I screamed as the piece vanished into nothing. I wanted to escape, to get away from the invisible voices cutting at me, tearing pieces off me but I was trapped by invisible restraints.
"StopitAhstopitOWNOLEAVEMEALONE!..."
[We CaN HeLp YoU]
I blinked in surprise as my agony seemed to lessen as the clear yet slightly distorted voice spoke, before biting my lip as the pain in my arms doubled, bits of my skin were now peeling away before my eyes, "Please."
I vaguely register another, fainter voice but I wasn't paying attention, [We WiLl NeEd A MoMeNt. Be ReAdY]
I mentally braced myself even as I bit back another scream, "Please Hurry."
I flinched as something touched my face, shivering roughly as it started to spread, it was hot and cold yet neither at the same time, first my face, then I could feel it coating my hair, it went down my neck and then pouring over my shoulders.
I should probably have been more concerned, especially with the new contours of my body it was flowing over and clinging to, but all that mattered was the pain disappearing as the sensation spread, I sighed in relief and folded my arms, rubbing the places that had been in agony seconds before, it's almost like it's putting back the pieces that were torn away.
I can barely hear the second voice now, they seem distressed, or at least worried.
[We ArE AlMoSt DoNe.] the First Voice said, [ArE yOu ReAdY?]
I swallowed, suddenly nervous now the sensation reached my ankles, "Yes."
The sensation envelopes my toes, [It Is TiMe!]
I was gripped by a feeling of weightlessness yet falling, I closed my eyes and braced myself for the sudden stop.
=========================================================================================================================================
I winced as I opened my eyes, not ready for the bright light.
I looked down as I registered a weight, or weights rather, resting on my folded arms, my field of view framed by waist length hair of a distinctly Targaryen shade of blonde.
I have Boobs.
Big, perky and surprisingly sensitive Boobs, that leave an otherwise full sized sailor suit shirt as basically a crop top.
The Gravity of this fact is driven home as I shift my weight nervously, nicely toned thighs rub together smoothly and highlight the absence of a certain floppy appendage.
I glance up and see I'm not alone, my nerves ratchet a notch as I take in the predatory gaze of my audience.
Last edited:
Summoning
For a moment there's silence. Just me and the audience staring at each other.
They are mostly pale skinned females, with almost cartoonishly slender yet voluptuous figures, light hair and red or golden eyes, the similarities to Human women end there however.
What little clothing they wear, if any, is mostly an inky black cloth that looks like silk yet isn't, what isn't cloth is a corroded black metal that is alternately clothing/armour and actual body parts.
There were two however that wore what looked like thigh length wool sweaters, one was about my height and build with two stubby black horns on the sides of her head, the other towered over me with a single red ringed black unicorn-like horn and two massive black gauntlets on.
[Hah! Another Weakling!] My hackles rose at the mocking voice, [You're welcome to this one Darwin!]
"I'm Not Weak!" I stood straight, head held high as all eyes landed on me again.
[Really?] I glared at the owner of the mocking voice as she stepped out of the crowd, other than two black horns on her forehead she was deceptively Human in a silky knee length dress and high heeled shoes, walking towards me with a slow, sensual strut that instinctively drawing the eye to her narrow waist and swaying child-bearing hips.
I wrenched my eyes upward near instantly, I subconsciously adjusted my stance at her wicked, if approving smirk, a part of my mind noting I'm also wearing high heels as I adjust my footing.
[You have spirit] she noted as she stopped in front of me, my eyes would be level with her chin were I not glaring at her and resisting the urge to peek into the milky expanse of flesh under my chin, [But spirit alone means nothing.]
There's a flash of- 'something' deep within me and I know what to do, I pull on that feeling and it's like a part of me that was missing just slots into place, bonding seamlessly and leaving me stronger, Whole.
I have an unparalleled view of her pleased smile as the woman's eyes rove appraisingly over the new parts of me; on my back is a block of metal, across my shoulders are something that resembles a set of 1940's leather shoulder pads for American football and are shaped to cover the tops of my shoulders and shoulder blades. on each shoulder is a block of the same corroded black metal that some of the others have, each has seven gun barrels pocking out of it and four on top.
There's a similar set up on my upper arms, except the block has a large twin barrelled turret mounted on it, the block is strapped down to my arm.
My forearms, however, do not have the turret blocks strapped down, instead having grips on the underside for me to grasp.
[You have some teeth] the woman noted with that smile of hers, I tensed for whatever she had planned.
"Uffph!" The feeling of ribs bending, bone or metal and especially both, is Not pleasant.
[But there is little strength] the bitch continued as she pulled her hand back from my deformed ribs, [you are a glass cannon. Nothing more.]
"So my belt is bad," I retorted, straightening up, "nothing that can't be fixed in a refit."
The bitch nodded [true, and as I said you have teeth, but you are an older design that will require a lot of work to be useful] I bristled at the implication, [time and resources my Princess cannot afford to waste]
[Agreed] a younger, white haired woman in a blue/black halter neck dress said, [My Princess has no need of an obsolete battlecruiser that will just consume resources for no gain]
The bitch looked to the speaker, then back to me, she gave me one last infinitely punchable smirk before turning around and walking away.
The tall woman in a wool sweater approaches, [you may stow your rigging, you will not need it here]
I hesitate for a second, then comply. I don't know How, I know how to do it but I do.
[If there are to be no more summonings performed, I will return to my Princess] the bitch said, passing the crowd and disappearing into a... I think it's a tunnel?
The others began to follow her out, I looked back to the Tall woman as I realized something.
"You're the one who spoke to me where I was... before?" I finished lamely.
She smiled, [Yes, it was me. I am the Harbour Princess, you may call me Wanko-chan, or Lady Darwin if you prefer.]
I bowed my head, "I'm..." Who am I? "I don't remember,"
[You can ask your crew,] Lady Darwin suggested.
"My crew?" I suddenly felt a feeling like ants crawling under my skin and a chorus of "Heys!" reverberated through the edges of my perception, one particular string stood out from the rest.
"CC-1," I relayed to Lady Darwin as I mentally translated, "United. States. Ship. Lexington, Lead Ship of the Lexington-class Battlecruisers."
Lady Darwin smiled, [Welcome to the Fleet, Lexington. I'll show you where you'll be quartered and tomorrow we'll start integrating you into the Fleet.]
With that she turned around and started walking towards the exit, I fell in step behind instinctively in spite of my mind freezing at the realization she was wearing a virgin killer sweater, as I came back to my senses I glanced down as I noticed I had no problem walking in 3 1/2 to 4 inch heels, but can't really see my feet.
Boobs are Awesome, but not being able to see my toes is going to get old fast.
I looked up to see the other sweater wearing woman fall in beside Lady Darwin, I felt pressure, a pop and a trickle from my nose as I saw she also had a virgin killer sweater.
I am surrounded by Hot, Sexy women that are vaguely familiar, I'm apparently the personification of a ship that was converted into an aircraft carrier during construction to comply with the Washington Naval Treaty and I get the distinct feeling my life is about to get a whole lot weirder.
They are mostly pale skinned females, with almost cartoonishly slender yet voluptuous figures, light hair and red or golden eyes, the similarities to Human women end there however.
What little clothing they wear, if any, is mostly an inky black cloth that looks like silk yet isn't, what isn't cloth is a corroded black metal that is alternately clothing/armour and actual body parts.
There were two however that wore what looked like thigh length wool sweaters, one was about my height and build with two stubby black horns on the sides of her head, the other towered over me with a single red ringed black unicorn-like horn and two massive black gauntlets on.
[Hah! Another Weakling!] My hackles rose at the mocking voice, [You're welcome to this one Darwin!]
"I'm Not Weak!" I stood straight, head held high as all eyes landed on me again.
[Really?] I glared at the owner of the mocking voice as she stepped out of the crowd, other than two black horns on her forehead she was deceptively Human in a silky knee length dress and high heeled shoes, walking towards me with a slow, sensual strut that instinctively drawing the eye to her narrow waist and swaying child-bearing hips.
I wrenched my eyes upward near instantly, I subconsciously adjusted my stance at her wicked, if approving smirk, a part of my mind noting I'm also wearing high heels as I adjust my footing.
[You have spirit] she noted as she stopped in front of me, my eyes would be level with her chin were I not glaring at her and resisting the urge to peek into the milky expanse of flesh under my chin, [But spirit alone means nothing.]
There's a flash of- 'something' deep within me and I know what to do, I pull on that feeling and it's like a part of me that was missing just slots into place, bonding seamlessly and leaving me stronger, Whole.
I have an unparalleled view of her pleased smile as the woman's eyes rove appraisingly over the new parts of me; on my back is a block of metal, across my shoulders are something that resembles a set of 1940's leather shoulder pads for American football and are shaped to cover the tops of my shoulders and shoulder blades. on each shoulder is a block of the same corroded black metal that some of the others have, each has seven gun barrels pocking out of it and four on top.
There's a similar set up on my upper arms, except the block has a large twin barrelled turret mounted on it, the block is strapped down to my arm.
My forearms, however, do not have the turret blocks strapped down, instead having grips on the underside for me to grasp.
[You have some teeth] the woman noted with that smile of hers, I tensed for whatever she had planned.
"Uffph!" The feeling of ribs bending, bone or metal and especially both, is Not pleasant.
[But there is little strength] the bitch continued as she pulled her hand back from my deformed ribs, [you are a glass cannon. Nothing more.]
"So my belt is bad," I retorted, straightening up, "nothing that can't be fixed in a refit."
The bitch nodded [true, and as I said you have teeth, but you are an older design that will require a lot of work to be useful] I bristled at the implication, [time and resources my Princess cannot afford to waste]
[Agreed] a younger, white haired woman in a blue/black halter neck dress said, [My Princess has no need of an obsolete battlecruiser that will just consume resources for no gain]
The bitch looked to the speaker, then back to me, she gave me one last infinitely punchable smirk before turning around and walking away.
The tall woman in a wool sweater approaches, [you may stow your rigging, you will not need it here]
I hesitate for a second, then comply. I don't know How, I know how to do it but I do.
[If there are to be no more summonings performed, I will return to my Princess] the bitch said, passing the crowd and disappearing into a... I think it's a tunnel?
The others began to follow her out, I looked back to the Tall woman as I realized something.
"You're the one who spoke to me where I was... before?" I finished lamely.
She smiled, [Yes, it was me. I am the Harbour Princess, you may call me Wanko-chan, or Lady Darwin if you prefer.]
I bowed my head, "I'm..." Who am I? "I don't remember,"
[You can ask your crew,] Lady Darwin suggested.
"My crew?" I suddenly felt a feeling like ants crawling under my skin and a chorus of "Heys!" reverberated through the edges of my perception, one particular string stood out from the rest.
"CC-1," I relayed to Lady Darwin as I mentally translated, "United. States. Ship. Lexington, Lead Ship of the Lexington-class Battlecruisers."
Lady Darwin smiled, [Welcome to the Fleet, Lexington. I'll show you where you'll be quartered and tomorrow we'll start integrating you into the Fleet.]
With that she turned around and started walking towards the exit, I fell in step behind instinctively in spite of my mind freezing at the realization she was wearing a virgin killer sweater, as I came back to my senses I glanced down as I noticed I had no problem walking in 3 1/2 to 4 inch heels, but can't really see my feet.
Boobs are Awesome, but not being able to see my toes is going to get old fast.
I looked up to see the other sweater wearing woman fall in beside Lady Darwin, I felt pressure, a pop and a trickle from my nose as I saw she also had a virgin killer sweater.
I am surrounded by Hot, Sexy women that are vaguely familiar, I'm apparently the personification of a ship that was converted into an aircraft carrier during construction to comply with the Washington Naval Treaty and I get the distinct feeling my life is about to get a whole lot weirder.
First Night In
I followed Lady Darwin and her... Sister?/Daughter? into the tunnel, glancing around I was reminded of an old mine though the floor was thankfully smooth so I wasn't risking my ankles with my heels, after about ten minutes ascending a gentle slope the tunnel ended.
I stopped in the entryway, blinking furiously as my eyes adjusted, glancing around showed that the tunnel entrance was nestled in the side of a hill. An open expanse that reminded me of both a parade ground and an old Palmerston Fort given the red brick gallery behind me and the vaguely familiar square doors in semi-circular portals.
Turning my attention back to Lady Darwin I froze as I felt the breeze caress my body, placing my hand on my hip just confirmed my fear.
I'd just spent however long practically on display to who I presume to be very important people, or their representatives, in nothing more than a too small sailor shirt, knee high high heeled boots, thigh high stockings and bikini bottoms.
Lady Darwin and her companion just smile amusedly as I catch up to them, I can feel my blush spreading down my neck and almost to my cleavage, thankfully they don't comment on my newly discovered self consciousness.
[Welcome to Port Darwin, my namesake,] Lady Darwin says, gesturing to the sprawling harbour and city beyond that was beautifully lit by the setting sun, [and your new Home.]
The awe of being on the other side of the world wore off near instantly as I saw the state of the city, "What happened to the city?"
[We bombarded it,] I stared at the younger Princess? She shrugged, [not by us specifically, we hadn't been created yet, but it was Abyssals that attacked the city.]
[I was created specifically to occupy Port Darwin,] Lady Darwin explained, as I looked to her, [in particular to provide a base to resupply, repair, and refit Abyssals.]
"Is that what we are?" I asked as I looked down and played with a lock of my hair, as something welled up inside me, not shame, but...
[Yes,] Darwin's companion nodded, [I am Henrietta, An Installation class Abyssal, specifically an Airfield Princess, as you might have guessed I am the personification of an airfield.]
[I am also an Installation class, a Harbour or Seaport Princess,] Lady Darwin confirmed, [specifically the personification of Port Darwin.]
The butterflies in my stomach stopped doing back flips and settled around my navel as I looked down, "and I'm a battlecruiser?"
[Yes and no,] Darwin continued as I looked up at her, [You are the battlecruiser USS Lexington personified as a Ta class fast battleship.]
"I don't understand?" I looked between the two in confusion, "I know Hood blurred the line, but battlecruisers and fast battleships are two different things."
[Most Abyssals are reincarnated as part of a broad class as opposed to their individual classes,] Henrietta explained as she set off walking again, [think of it like the Standard battleships, you are all individual ships of different classes but are similar enough in capability to be lumped together in a single broad category with only relatively minor differences.]
As I fell in behind them I thought about that answer, "so Hood would be a Ta class like me because we have similar capability albeit she has better armour while I have a more powerful main battery?"
Darwin smiled, [exactly, while you have individual strengths and weaknesses the Abyss has an inherent ability to streamline things for those summoned allowing you to operate as a Homogeneous Battle Squadron. We are here.]
We'd stopped at an old red brick, three story building, typical of older military bases around the world.
[Come, I'll introduce you to your roommate and tomorrow you'll meet the rest of your Battle Squadron,] Henrietta said, looking at me, taking the hint I bid Lady Darwin goodnight and followed the younger princess into the building.
Glancing around as we walked I thought of something, "How many er- ship girls? are in the Fleet if there are multiple squadrons? I mean, I assume there are multiple squadrons?"
Henrietta stopped and looked at me over shoulder with a raised eyebrow, [refrain from referring to your fleetmates as Shipgirls, that is the term for our counterparts that are defending Humanity, they may take offence.]
I winced, "understood."
Henrietta nodded and continued on, starting up the stairs, [and to answer your question we have enough Abyssals to field three squadrons, two Full Battle Squadrons of three Battleships, two Fleet Carriers, five to seven cruisers of either type, and twelve to fifteen destroyers.] She paused as she stepped off the stairs onto the first floor landing, [You however are assigned to the Third Squadron, the Fast Division if you will; consisting of two Ta class fast battleships, including yourself, one Wo class fleet carrier, two Ne class heavy cruisers, one Tsu class light cruiser, five Ro class and two Ha class destroyers, a little understrength but...]
"Those Bitches in the summoning chamber," I muttered angrily, 'The Bitch's' declaration now making sense, "they poach the more valuable summons leaving you the scraps!"
[Indeed,] Henrietta said [finally we have a dozen So class submarines, despite being the most modern and powerful they are also the largest and not considered sneaky enough by the other Princesses,] she finally stopped at a door, raising her hand she knocked.
There was a moment of silence that seemed to stretch on, Leaving me wringing my hands nervously as thoughts of what my new roommate would be like flashed through my mind.
There was movement from inside and soft footsteps approaching the door, with a rattle of the lock and the door opened, a bleary eyed face framed by mussed pale Rose Gold locks peeked out, "Wat chu wan... Princess!"
I bit my lip to keep from snickering as the sleepy Abyssal realized who her visitor was and snapped awake and to attention, opening the door to reveal the occupant was a Ta class like myself, though her hourglass figure was broader at the shoulders with narrower hips, where I seemed to be the opposite.
Henrietta smiled and waved away the salute, [good evening Repulse, I have brought your new roommate, she will be joining your squadron tomorrow.]
Repulse, blinked and stared at me in shock before her eyes narrowed shrewdly, "the vultures actually let us keep a Ta? What's the catch?"
I blushed, "my belt may be a little underwhelming, that's all," I countered a smidge defensively, maybe with a hint of haughtiness thrown in.
I fought the urge to squirm as the other Ta scrutinized me, "you look American... but I don't recognise you, cancelled ship?"
"Converted actually..." I blinked as I processed what she'd said, "Wait! How did you determine that from just looki-can you see my Hull?!" I suddenly felt utterly exposed, not even walking around in a crop top and thong had I felt so naked. Instantly I turn away raising a leg to cover my groin, my hands clamping over my boobs and screw my eyes shut "STOP LEWDING ME!"
I heard the shocked Ta splutter something resembling a denial, while Henrietta chuckled, "Goddamn Japs, corrupting innocent girls before they even hit the water."
[That's quite enough] Henrietta said, bringing our antics to a halt, she addressed me [once your training begins you will gain the ability to see shipgirls' and Abyssals steel forms, it is vital to identification of enemy and friendly forces] she turned to Repulse, [help her get settled in and tomorrow you will start on integrating her into the squadron.]
"Yes Princess!" we both saluted and the Princess turned away to leave, Repulse looked at me "well? come in."
I followed the other Ta into he-Our room, looking around it was fairly ordinary; two single beds, a chest of drawers at the foot of each bed, two wardrobes on one wall, a small table with two chairs opposite, a window at the heads of the beds and a cabinet between the two under the window.
"This is kinda nice," I said, as I looked back to Repulse, "cozy."
"Thanks," Repulse said, sitting down on the bed with it's covers mussed, "well I'm Repulse, second of the Renown class battlecruisers and a Ta class Abyssal, who might you be?" she greeted, offering her hand to shake.
I smiled a little, sitting on my own bed and shaking her outstretched hand, "USS Lexington, Lead Ship of the Lexington class battlecruisers and also a Ta class, call me Lexi."
Repulse's eyebrows disappeared into her hair, "weren't you, errr-"
"Converted?" I absently rubbed the places on my arms where I'd been cut into before Lady Darwin rescued me as a shiver ran through me, "Yes."
"Shit, I'm sorry," Repulse apologised quickly, I shook my head.
"Not your fault I can remember," I then realized something, "Um. This won't be a problem, will it? If I recall..."
Repulse waved me off, "I was sunk by land based aircraft, not carriers, don't worry about it," she then yawned, "I'm tired from being out on patrol so I'm going back to bed if you don't mind."
"Good night," I said and Repulse quickly disappeared under her covers, I set to removing my boots, which although seemingly metal had a zipper up the back, once they were unzipped and were off my feet I set them together by the foot of my bed so I wouldn't trip if I got up in the night, I then turned my attention to my stockings which I just rolled down my legs until they were off.
Slipping the rolled up stockings into my boots, I took a moment to examine my feet and legs; it felt strange to see my feet so petite and feminine, on the end of long, slim and even more feminine legs, my hand drifted to the junction of my thighs experimentally and an alien shiver rippled through me.
I took a few deep breathes to calm myself, a tiny part of my mind noting that my heaving bosom must be quite a sight.
Fuck! Waking up with boobs that would make a Playboy Bunny jealous was probably the least weird thing I had experienced today!
I am a Girl. A Hot Girl that is the personification of a ship that was not completed as she was intended to be when laid down. In a World where similar such personifications fought for control of the seas. And I was on the side Fighting against Humanity.
It's probably the last scraps of my former Male identity making itself known, but growing Boobs is kind of Tame compared to all of that.
I shook my head to clear my thoughts, I should get some rest, tomorrow was going to be a long day.
I slipped under the covers and lay back, wondering what the rest of the squadron was like, before closing my eyes and settling down to sleep.
=============================================================================================
For a moment I wondered why I was awake, I'd been dreaming of tanning on a beach with someone that looked almost identical to me except for her brown hair, even if all we were doing was tanning the company had been nice.
I was drawn to Repulse's bed by a whimper, a glance showed the other battlecruiser twisting and turning in her sleep.
"No... not... more planes... Prince!... Look Out! Torpedo..."
I pulled off my covers and swung my legs out of bed, I hesitated as I considered what I was about to do...
"...don't leave me, prince... please don't leave me alone..."
The twinge on my Heart became a vice, I got off my bed and over to Repulse's, I waited until she rolled over toward the wall, pulled back the covers and slid in, as if sensing me she rolled back over and into me, nuzzling into my chest I felt the front of my shirt dampen with tears, wrapping my arms around her in a hug I started rubbing little circles in her back.
"Shhh! Everything's ok now," I whispered soothingly into her rose gold tresses, "there's no nasty planes, and your not alone," she started to settle against me, "I'm here with you, no nasty planes will make me leave you."
She finally calmed down, nuzzling into my cleavage before settling on my left boob as a pillow, I tried not to react even as my cheeks burned from the intimate contact, lying back on Repulse's pillow one thing was on my mind.
'I hope this doesn't become a trend.'
I stopped in the entryway, blinking furiously as my eyes adjusted, glancing around showed that the tunnel entrance was nestled in the side of a hill. An open expanse that reminded me of both a parade ground and an old Palmerston Fort given the red brick gallery behind me and the vaguely familiar square doors in semi-circular portals.
Turning my attention back to Lady Darwin I froze as I felt the breeze caress my body, placing my hand on my hip just confirmed my fear.
I'd just spent however long practically on display to who I presume to be very important people, or their representatives, in nothing more than a too small sailor shirt, knee high high heeled boots, thigh high stockings and bikini bottoms.
Lady Darwin and her companion just smile amusedly as I catch up to them, I can feel my blush spreading down my neck and almost to my cleavage, thankfully they don't comment on my newly discovered self consciousness.
[Welcome to Port Darwin, my namesake,] Lady Darwin says, gesturing to the sprawling harbour and city beyond that was beautifully lit by the setting sun, [and your new Home.]
The awe of being on the other side of the world wore off near instantly as I saw the state of the city, "What happened to the city?"
[We bombarded it,] I stared at the younger Princess? She shrugged, [not by us specifically, we hadn't been created yet, but it was Abyssals that attacked the city.]
[I was created specifically to occupy Port Darwin,] Lady Darwin explained, as I looked to her, [in particular to provide a base to resupply, repair, and refit Abyssals.]
"Is that what we are?" I asked as I looked down and played with a lock of my hair, as something welled up inside me, not shame, but...
[Yes,] Darwin's companion nodded, [I am Henrietta, An Installation class Abyssal, specifically an Airfield Princess, as you might have guessed I am the personification of an airfield.]
[I am also an Installation class, a Harbour or Seaport Princess,] Lady Darwin confirmed, [specifically the personification of Port Darwin.]
The butterflies in my stomach stopped doing back flips and settled around my navel as I looked down, "and I'm a battlecruiser?"
[Yes and no,] Darwin continued as I looked up at her, [You are the battlecruiser USS Lexington personified as a Ta class fast battleship.]
"I don't understand?" I looked between the two in confusion, "I know Hood blurred the line, but battlecruisers and fast battleships are two different things."
[Most Abyssals are reincarnated as part of a broad class as opposed to their individual classes,] Henrietta explained as she set off walking again, [think of it like the Standard battleships, you are all individual ships of different classes but are similar enough in capability to be lumped together in a single broad category with only relatively minor differences.]
As I fell in behind them I thought about that answer, "so Hood would be a Ta class like me because we have similar capability albeit she has better armour while I have a more powerful main battery?"
Darwin smiled, [exactly, while you have individual strengths and weaknesses the Abyss has an inherent ability to streamline things for those summoned allowing you to operate as a Homogeneous Battle Squadron. We are here.]
We'd stopped at an old red brick, three story building, typical of older military bases around the world.
[Come, I'll introduce you to your roommate and tomorrow you'll meet the rest of your Battle Squadron,] Henrietta said, looking at me, taking the hint I bid Lady Darwin goodnight and followed the younger princess into the building.
Glancing around as we walked I thought of something, "How many er- ship girls? are in the Fleet if there are multiple squadrons? I mean, I assume there are multiple squadrons?"
Henrietta stopped and looked at me over shoulder with a raised eyebrow, [refrain from referring to your fleetmates as Shipgirls, that is the term for our counterparts that are defending Humanity, they may take offence.]
I winced, "understood."
Henrietta nodded and continued on, starting up the stairs, [and to answer your question we have enough Abyssals to field three squadrons, two Full Battle Squadrons of three Battleships, two Fleet Carriers, five to seven cruisers of either type, and twelve to fifteen destroyers.] She paused as she stepped off the stairs onto the first floor landing, [You however are assigned to the Third Squadron, the Fast Division if you will; consisting of two Ta class fast battleships, including yourself, one Wo class fleet carrier, two Ne class heavy cruisers, one Tsu class light cruiser, five Ro class and two Ha class destroyers, a little understrength but...]
"Those Bitches in the summoning chamber," I muttered angrily, 'The Bitch's' declaration now making sense, "they poach the more valuable summons leaving you the scraps!"
[Indeed,] Henrietta said [finally we have a dozen So class submarines, despite being the most modern and powerful they are also the largest and not considered sneaky enough by the other Princesses,] she finally stopped at a door, raising her hand she knocked.
There was a moment of silence that seemed to stretch on, Leaving me wringing my hands nervously as thoughts of what my new roommate would be like flashed through my mind.
There was movement from inside and soft footsteps approaching the door, with a rattle of the lock and the door opened, a bleary eyed face framed by mussed pale Rose Gold locks peeked out, "Wat chu wan... Princess!"
I bit my lip to keep from snickering as the sleepy Abyssal realized who her visitor was and snapped awake and to attention, opening the door to reveal the occupant was a Ta class like myself, though her hourglass figure was broader at the shoulders with narrower hips, where I seemed to be the opposite.
Henrietta smiled and waved away the salute, [good evening Repulse, I have brought your new roommate, she will be joining your squadron tomorrow.]
Repulse, blinked and stared at me in shock before her eyes narrowed shrewdly, "the vultures actually let us keep a Ta? What's the catch?"
I blushed, "my belt may be a little underwhelming, that's all," I countered a smidge defensively, maybe with a hint of haughtiness thrown in.
I fought the urge to squirm as the other Ta scrutinized me, "you look American... but I don't recognise you, cancelled ship?"
"Converted actually..." I blinked as I processed what she'd said, "Wait! How did you determine that from just looki-can you see my Hull?!" I suddenly felt utterly exposed, not even walking around in a crop top and thong had I felt so naked. Instantly I turn away raising a leg to cover my groin, my hands clamping over my boobs and screw my eyes shut "STOP LEWDING ME!"
I heard the shocked Ta splutter something resembling a denial, while Henrietta chuckled, "Goddamn Japs, corrupting innocent girls before they even hit the water."
[That's quite enough] Henrietta said, bringing our antics to a halt, she addressed me [once your training begins you will gain the ability to see shipgirls' and Abyssals steel forms, it is vital to identification of enemy and friendly forces] she turned to Repulse, [help her get settled in and tomorrow you will start on integrating her into the squadron.]
"Yes Princess!" we both saluted and the Princess turned away to leave, Repulse looked at me "well? come in."
I followed the other Ta into he-Our room, looking around it was fairly ordinary; two single beds, a chest of drawers at the foot of each bed, two wardrobes on one wall, a small table with two chairs opposite, a window at the heads of the beds and a cabinet between the two under the window.
"This is kinda nice," I said, as I looked back to Repulse, "cozy."
"Thanks," Repulse said, sitting down on the bed with it's covers mussed, "well I'm Repulse, second of the Renown class battlecruisers and a Ta class Abyssal, who might you be?" she greeted, offering her hand to shake.
I smiled a little, sitting on my own bed and shaking her outstretched hand, "USS Lexington, Lead Ship of the Lexington class battlecruisers and also a Ta class, call me Lexi."
Repulse's eyebrows disappeared into her hair, "weren't you, errr-"
"Converted?" I absently rubbed the places on my arms where I'd been cut into before Lady Darwin rescued me as a shiver ran through me, "Yes."
"Shit, I'm sorry," Repulse apologised quickly, I shook my head.
"Not your fault I can remember," I then realized something, "Um. This won't be a problem, will it? If I recall..."
Repulse waved me off, "I was sunk by land based aircraft, not carriers, don't worry about it," she then yawned, "I'm tired from being out on patrol so I'm going back to bed if you don't mind."
"Good night," I said and Repulse quickly disappeared under her covers, I set to removing my boots, which although seemingly metal had a zipper up the back, once they were unzipped and were off my feet I set them together by the foot of my bed so I wouldn't trip if I got up in the night, I then turned my attention to my stockings which I just rolled down my legs until they were off.
Slipping the rolled up stockings into my boots, I took a moment to examine my feet and legs; it felt strange to see my feet so petite and feminine, on the end of long, slim and even more feminine legs, my hand drifted to the junction of my thighs experimentally and an alien shiver rippled through me.
I took a few deep breathes to calm myself, a tiny part of my mind noting that my heaving bosom must be quite a sight.
Fuck! Waking up with boobs that would make a Playboy Bunny jealous was probably the least weird thing I had experienced today!
I am a Girl. A Hot Girl that is the personification of a ship that was not completed as she was intended to be when laid down. In a World where similar such personifications fought for control of the seas. And I was on the side Fighting against Humanity.
It's probably the last scraps of my former Male identity making itself known, but growing Boobs is kind of Tame compared to all of that.
I shook my head to clear my thoughts, I should get some rest, tomorrow was going to be a long day.
I slipped under the covers and lay back, wondering what the rest of the squadron was like, before closing my eyes and settling down to sleep.
=============================================================================================
I was drawn to Repulse's bed by a whimper, a glance showed the other battlecruiser twisting and turning in her sleep.
"No... not... more planes... Prince!... Look Out! Torpedo..."
I pulled off my covers and swung my legs out of bed, I hesitated as I considered what I was about to do...
"...don't leave me, prince... please don't leave me alone..."
The twinge on my Heart became a vice, I got off my bed and over to Repulse's, I waited until she rolled over toward the wall, pulled back the covers and slid in, as if sensing me she rolled back over and into me, nuzzling into my chest I felt the front of my shirt dampen with tears, wrapping my arms around her in a hug I started rubbing little circles in her back.
"Shhh! Everything's ok now," I whispered soothingly into her rose gold tresses, "there's no nasty planes, and your not alone," she started to settle against me, "I'm here with you, no nasty planes will make me leave you."
She finally calmed down, nuzzling into my cleavage before settling on my left boob as a pillow, I tried not to react even as my cheeks burned from the intimate contact, lying back on Repulse's pillow one thing was on my mind.
'I hope this doesn't become a trend.'
Pridakarbiter
Unseelie
- Location
- Arctis Tor
More Kancolle fics are always welcome. One thing I'm a little concerned about is the lack of otherness that the abyssals have. They seem a little too human.
Abyssals and shipgirls are supposed to be two sides of the same coin, in the anime the ones with noticeable personalities were either Princesses or flagships while the rest were either too inhuman or just blank. Here the "In a Mirror Darkly" vibe is more evident yet also defied, the Abyssals under the more aggressive Princesses are more twisted and inhuman due to the Abyss' influence being stronger in them, while the Darwin Fleet is basically made of the cast offs, the weak and the wrong in the eyes of the other Princesses.
Thus the Abyssals in Port Darwin are less corrupted and closer in personality to their shipgirl counterparts than most of the other Abyssal fleets.
The Abyss manifests stronger the more combat an Abyssal sees, So Darwin being a support installation that rarely, if ever, sees combat is calm, rational and caring toward her fleet, while a Princess that sees combat regularly like the Isolated Island Princess, Twin Princesses or Midway Princess will be crueller, aggressive and apathetic to the state of its subordinates and this is reflected in their fleets.
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Meeting the Fleet
Waking up was a rather unique experience for me, both because there was someone else in my bed and because that someone's hot breath sent wonderful feeling shivers through my body as it blew over my boobs.
On the plus side, they weren't drooling.
Opening my eyes confirmed my roommate was using my left boob as a pillow, she tightened her grip on me and nuzzled into it as I watched.
"Comfy?" I asked the sleepy battlecruiser, idly I wondered just how good a pillow boobs made? My girlfriend in my past life had a lovely pair but weren't really large enough to try using as a pillow.
Repulse hummed agreeingly, then her eyes shot open in surprise.
I smiled at her as she peeked up at me, "hi there."
"Erm Lex... what are you doing in my bed?" Repulse asked, then seemed to realize what she was resting her head on, with an "eep" she released me and darted away in the blink of an eye,
I couldn't stop myself giggling and Repulse glared from where she was pressed against the wall.
"What are you doing in my bed?" Repulse repeated as I got up, yawning.
"You were talking in your sleep and woke me up," I felt a pang of guilt as she stared down at her toes, "I thought you were having a nightmare so I went to comfort you and erm..." I blushed, "once you settled down you kinda claimed my boob as your pillow."
Repulse sighed, "I'm sorry, I've never had a roommate before so I never realized..."
"It's ok," I smiled warmly, then I had a mischievous idea, "so. Better than your own pillow?" I laughed as Repulse threw said pillow at me.
"Come on, let's get breakfast and then I'll introduce you to the rest of the squadron," Repulse said, climbing to the edge of her bed and pulling her boots to her.
It was as she pulled her right boot on I noticed something, my hands coming to rest on my bare hips again as my sense of modesty made itself known again, "Um... could I borrow a pair of shorts?"
Repulse looked at me, then lower, "oh! So you haven't been to see the Supply Depot Princess yet?"
"Who?"
Repulse nodded, "exactly, now start getting ready and I'll see what I have," I nodded and sat down on my bed, grabbing my boots, I fished out my stockings and started putting them on, as I finished rolling the second stocking up a piece of black cloth landed in my lap.
"There, those should go over that big butt of yours," Repulse said as she zipped up her own boots, "at least until we see the Supply Depot Princess."
A black pair of shorts typical of any High school's sports kit, they went up my legs easy enough but turned out to be snug on my hips, requiring a little persuasion to slide up my butt which must have made a nice show for Repulse.
"Done?" I sent the older battlecruiser a light glare as I stepped into and zipped up my boots, "let's go."
I followed her out and waited as she locked the door, she caught my glance at her key, "I'll have a copy cut at the supply depot," she said, tucking her key into the pocket of her own shorts.
It was a little strange that we didn't meet anyone on the way through the dorm, Repulse must have seen me looking around because she told me the other capital Abyssals were already either up or out on patrol.
The bombed out city was still a bit unnerving to see, but Repulse quickly distracted me by describing the base and it's inhabitants, starting with a trio of German battleships that were chatting quietly as they walked toward the dorm from off to our left, turning off the parade ground showed four carriers around a table working on their capes either in front of them or knitting new ones, on reaching the water front there was a bunch of young girls fishing into the harbour who waved as we passed, turning right we walked along wharf until the warehouses ended at a stone pier, there was an open green on the landward side past the pier and beyond that were a trio of buildings, two long, narrow buildings that came to the water's edge with a small jetty jutting out from in between them and a larger red brick building behind them, lounging on the jetty and in the water nearby were a dozen or so very curvy young women with long black hair and low cut backless one piece swimsuits.
"That's the Repair Docks which also houses the submarine quarters," Repulse explains, waving to the women below.
"It looks like a pair of covered slipways," I noted, seeing the resemblance to similar structures in the old Chatham Royal Dockyard.
"The nearer one is, the other was turned into a workshop for manufacturing and storing spare parts," Repulse explained as we walked along the side of the building, "and this is the supply depot, it's run by a Supply Depot Princess that likes the name Suprin."
"Likes the Name?" I asked as we entered the building.
"Installation type Abyssals don't have names like us as they aren't ships," Repulse answered as she led me through the building, "most are too corrupted to care but our Fleet doesn't see too much combat so the Abyss has less of a grip on us so we retain more Humanity."
I thought on that for a moment, "so we're not blood thirsty monsters because we're Pirates who don't do anything?"
[Pretty much,] my attention snapped from Repulse to the figure in front of us: she was about Henrietta's height and build, her floor length hair was in a braid that looped over her shoulders then hung down, she wore one of those hang off the shoulder shirts, the wide collar revealing the strap of a black string bikini top, she also wore black denim shorts, white and grey calf length striped socks and black combat boots, like Darwin she had large metal gauntlets but these were styled like a labourer's rather than Darwin's medieval knight, which was probably a good thing as she adjusted her glasses.
[So you're the new summon?] I felt like a prize filly at auction as Suprin circled me, her eyes roving up and down my body appraisingly, [you'll definitely need a refit before we send you out. Well I currently have a surplus of USN parts, anything in particular you fancy?]
"An armour belt worth the name?" I joked weakly, "maybe swap out my 3" AA for 5"/25s and add a pair of 1.1" mounts on each side?"
[I've only got some 9" plating to hand, but that's still fairly average for a WWI battlecruiser like you,] Suprin finished her circuit of me and cupped her chin thoughtfully, [and I can swap out the AA but why the 1.1"'s?]
"Because .50 Cal machine guns won't cut it and the USN didn't adopt the Oerlikon until the next War started," I pointed out, then shrugged, "also it fits in with an Interwar configuration."
Suprin nodded, [Ok, follow me,] she then spun on her heel and strode into the room we'd been standing in front of the whole time, I set off at a jog after her but slowed instantly as I entered, a familiar sense of awe welled up inside me as I looked around, craning my head to look every which way at all the stuff crammed into the room, trying to take it all in at once just like I did when Dad would take me to a museum when I was little...
I just had time for that depressing thought to register when my plump booty bumped into something solid, I jumped with a yip and turned around, noting I'd walked into what looked suspiciously like a Hot Tub as I tried to ignore Repulse's giggling.
[This is where I conduct refits,] Suprin explained as she started rummaging through the drawers on an adjacent workbench, [now, Strip!]
I froze as heat blossomed in my cheeks, managing to squeak "what?"
[Strip!] Suprin ordered firmly, looking up from her search to glare at me, [the repair bath works best when the occupant is naked, unless you want to be awake while I work on your Rigging?]
My mind flashed back to emptiness, the feeling of ants roaming my body, of tiny red hot knifes cutting into my flesh and of hooks tearing pieces away into the blackness...
"I'll be good," I said in a small voice, I avoided looking at either Suprin or Repulse and obediently started removing my clothing, albeit clumsy and robotic at first, when I had finished I stood there silently, waiting my next instruction while trying to ignore the way my hair was tickling the top of my bum.
[Arms up!] I lifted my arms and "EEPED!" as a tape measure encircled my chest then pulled against my boobs.
[Hold still!] Suprin commanded as the tape measure moved to just underneath my boobs, then down to my waist, then Suprin moved my hair aside and Repulse whistled appreciatively as the tape measure went around my hips.
I let out a breath I'd been holding as Suprin released the tape measure and went back to her workbench, then I jumped as a light Smack came down on my right buttcheek, I spun round, clutching my bum and glared at Repulse, who was grinning unrepentantly.
"Such a shapely stern," Repulse smiled teasingly, "and with just the right amount of jiggle. You'll have no trouble stopping traffic with that booty."
My face grew hot and I pointedly ignored my roommate as I turned back to the bath, Suprin giving my a pointed look.
The moment my foot entered the water I had to bite my lip to keep from moaning aloud, in my past life there'd been a thing about girls and baths but now I think I'm beginning to understand, as more of my body is immersed the Warmth that seeps into my body feels almost indecent, my bum touches the bottom and I look back to check my positioning, scooching my bum back a bit I lean back and as my boobs dip below the surface my back stops on some kind of rest, my neck falling onto a another.
Lying there I'm nearly overwhelmed by the sheer Luxuriousness I'm feeling and fail to hold back a moan.
[Yes, you can use the Repair Baths for bathing, No, I'm not making you one,] I pouted at the grinning Princess as Repulse giggled.
I closed my eyes and let the warmth wash over me, my eyes growing heavy by the second, my last thought before drifting off to sleep was 'I could get used to this'.
======================================================================================================
I blinked as the light shone in my eyes, a moment later my sight focused and I recognised the roof of Suprin's workshop.
[You're done, time to get up,] I jumped slightly but calmed as I spotted Suprin sitting on a box waiting for me.
Climbing out Repulse handed me a towel, as I dry off I glance down and catch a glimpse of golden curls through the valley of my boobs.
Earlier I was embarrassed by walking around in bikini bottoms yet her I am, perfectly ok with standing naked in front of two near total strangers? Is it because we're in the Repair Baths? Is it a Ship Spirit thing? Is it because on an instinctual level I understand their my fleetmates?
I shake my head lightly and continue towelling off, It's something I have to get used to I suppose.
Once I'm done Suprin gets up, [ok, here's you clothes and a few sets of underwear. Now, shorts or skirt?]
I though on that for a second, "Um, skirts for now but I could I get shorts to change into later?"
Suprin huffed but did set a skirt on my clothes while setting a mix of skirts and shorts into another, she then plopped a set of bra and panties on top of the skirt, [your a 36DD cup, 25 inch waist and 38 at the hips]
Repulse whistled, "Damn, you'll be beating guys off with a stick."
I blushed as I picked up the bra, which now I looked was rather low cut, "I like girls," I admitted shyly as I slipped the garment on.
[Well you'll have no shortage of prospects here then,] Suprin opined, [and for future reference, 38 inch hips is a medium by US measurements of size 10 for British.]
I was momentarily distracted from doing the clasp of my bra by the impressive amount of cleavage on display, 'I wonder if I could distract Shipgirls by wearing only a push up on top?'
I then realised what Suprin said, "Size 10 or Medium for 38 inch booty, got it."
Suprin threw my bikini bottoms at my face, luckily I'd clasped my bra and had hands free to catch them, slipping them on I quickly moved on to the skirt, which was surprisingly short and probably wouldn't reach mid-thigh, I slipped it on and moved to the sailor shirt which went over my head without issue, though as I pulled my hair through the collar I noted it seemed to ride a little higher than before.
Tying my neckerchief, I turned back to Suprin.
[Good, now summon your Rigging,] she ordered.
I close my eyes and try to recapture the feeling I'd felt when I'd got Mad with that Bitch in the Summoning Chamber, after what felt like an age I felt it, grasped it and pulled...
I felt a weight settle on my hips and even with my eyes shut I had a good picture of the room around me, although...
"Am I swaying?" I asked, slightly worried by the faint sensation.
"A little," Repulse admitted.
[It's just the Cage Mast,] Suprin assured me as she made a quick inspection of my Rigging.
Looking down I saw my Rigging was now a pseudo-waterline model of my hull, my bow had been split in two and the halves hung on my left and right, each half had a twin 16" turret mounted on the outer side of the halves of my bow, the other pair of turrets were mounted on arms attached to a small midships section that formed a sort of backpack (no idea where the stern is) which the bow sections also hinged off of, the majority of my secondaries and AA are on a raised hull section on the back of the bow sections, the midships section also mounted a cage mast and a smokestack.
The only thing that I found off putting was that it was all still made from the corroded black metal of my old Rigging.
[Everything seems in order,] Suprin noted, finishing her inspection, [now...] she was interrupted by a rumble.
I looked down at my exposed midriff, how can such a flat belly make such a loud noise?
[Alright, time to get lunch,] Suprin amended, then started shooing us out, [go on! Shoo!]
I stumbled a little as I collected my cape on my way out, I was clasping it when we were pushed out the front door.
"Well, I know where we're going next," Repulse said cheerily, "come on, I'll introduce you to everyone!"
Repulse ignored my protests as she dragged me across the base by one hand.
===============================================================================================================================
I glance down at my tray as I follow Repulse to a table, wondering how Repulse maintains such a trim figure if she regularly eats this much.
Eventually she stops at a table with a carrier and three cruisers, "hey everyone, this is my new roommate, Lexington, she's joining our squadron."
"Hi," I greeted, shyness overwhelming me once more as they all looked at me.
"That's Wasp," Repulse indicated the Wo, "those are Exeter and York," indicating the two heavy cruisers, "and that's Hermione," finally introducing the light cruiser.
"Welcome to the Fleet, Wo," Wasp greeted me with a smile as I sat down.
"Hey there," "Hi," the two heavy cruisers waved.
"I look forward to getting to know you," the bushy haired brunette, greeted me formally.
"Me too," I agreed as I sat down beside Repulse, who quickly drew me into a conversation with my new fleetmates.
Honestly, this doesn't seem so bad.
On the plus side, they weren't drooling.
Opening my eyes confirmed my roommate was using my left boob as a pillow, she tightened her grip on me and nuzzled into it as I watched.
"Comfy?" I asked the sleepy battlecruiser, idly I wondered just how good a pillow boobs made? My girlfriend in my past life had a lovely pair but weren't really large enough to try using as a pillow.
Repulse hummed agreeingly, then her eyes shot open in surprise.
I smiled at her as she peeked up at me, "hi there."
"Erm Lex... what are you doing in my bed?" Repulse asked, then seemed to realize what she was resting her head on, with an "eep" she released me and darted away in the blink of an eye,
I couldn't stop myself giggling and Repulse glared from where she was pressed against the wall.
"What are you doing in my bed?" Repulse repeated as I got up, yawning.
"You were talking in your sleep and woke me up," I felt a pang of guilt as she stared down at her toes, "I thought you were having a nightmare so I went to comfort you and erm..." I blushed, "once you settled down you kinda claimed my boob as your pillow."
Repulse sighed, "I'm sorry, I've never had a roommate before so I never realized..."
"It's ok," I smiled warmly, then I had a mischievous idea, "so. Better than your own pillow?" I laughed as Repulse threw said pillow at me.
"Come on, let's get breakfast and then I'll introduce you to the rest of the squadron," Repulse said, climbing to the edge of her bed and pulling her boots to her.
It was as she pulled her right boot on I noticed something, my hands coming to rest on my bare hips again as my sense of modesty made itself known again, "Um... could I borrow a pair of shorts?"
Repulse looked at me, then lower, "oh! So you haven't been to see the Supply Depot Princess yet?"
"Who?"
Repulse nodded, "exactly, now start getting ready and I'll see what I have," I nodded and sat down on my bed, grabbing my boots, I fished out my stockings and started putting them on, as I finished rolling the second stocking up a piece of black cloth landed in my lap.
"There, those should go over that big butt of yours," Repulse said as she zipped up her own boots, "at least until we see the Supply Depot Princess."
A black pair of shorts typical of any High school's sports kit, they went up my legs easy enough but turned out to be snug on my hips, requiring a little persuasion to slide up my butt which must have made a nice show for Repulse.
"Done?" I sent the older battlecruiser a light glare as I stepped into and zipped up my boots, "let's go."
I followed her out and waited as she locked the door, she caught my glance at her key, "I'll have a copy cut at the supply depot," she said, tucking her key into the pocket of her own shorts.
It was a little strange that we didn't meet anyone on the way through the dorm, Repulse must have seen me looking around because she told me the other capital Abyssals were already either up or out on patrol.
The bombed out city was still a bit unnerving to see, but Repulse quickly distracted me by describing the base and it's inhabitants, starting with a trio of German battleships that were chatting quietly as they walked toward the dorm from off to our left, turning off the parade ground showed four carriers around a table working on their capes either in front of them or knitting new ones, on reaching the water front there was a bunch of young girls fishing into the harbour who waved as we passed, turning right we walked along wharf until the warehouses ended at a stone pier, there was an open green on the landward side past the pier and beyond that were a trio of buildings, two long, narrow buildings that came to the water's edge with a small jetty jutting out from in between them and a larger red brick building behind them, lounging on the jetty and in the water nearby were a dozen or so very curvy young women with long black hair and low cut backless one piece swimsuits.
"That's the Repair Docks which also houses the submarine quarters," Repulse explains, waving to the women below.
"It looks like a pair of covered slipways," I noted, seeing the resemblance to similar structures in the old Chatham Royal Dockyard.
"The nearer one is, the other was turned into a workshop for manufacturing and storing spare parts," Repulse explained as we walked along the side of the building, "and this is the supply depot, it's run by a Supply Depot Princess that likes the name Suprin."
"Likes the Name?" I asked as we entered the building.
"Installation type Abyssals don't have names like us as they aren't ships," Repulse answered as she led me through the building, "most are too corrupted to care but our Fleet doesn't see too much combat so the Abyss has less of a grip on us so we retain more Humanity."
I thought on that for a moment, "so we're not blood thirsty monsters because we're Pirates who don't do anything?"
[Pretty much,] my attention snapped from Repulse to the figure in front of us: she was about Henrietta's height and build, her floor length hair was in a braid that looped over her shoulders then hung down, she wore one of those hang off the shoulder shirts, the wide collar revealing the strap of a black string bikini top, she also wore black denim shorts, white and grey calf length striped socks and black combat boots, like Darwin she had large metal gauntlets but these were styled like a labourer's rather than Darwin's medieval knight, which was probably a good thing as she adjusted her glasses.
[So you're the new summon?] I felt like a prize filly at auction as Suprin circled me, her eyes roving up and down my body appraisingly, [you'll definitely need a refit before we send you out. Well I currently have a surplus of USN parts, anything in particular you fancy?]
"An armour belt worth the name?" I joked weakly, "maybe swap out my 3" AA for 5"/25s and add a pair of 1.1" mounts on each side?"
[I've only got some 9" plating to hand, but that's still fairly average for a WWI battlecruiser like you,] Suprin finished her circuit of me and cupped her chin thoughtfully, [and I can swap out the AA but why the 1.1"'s?]
"Because .50 Cal machine guns won't cut it and the USN didn't adopt the Oerlikon until the next War started," I pointed out, then shrugged, "also it fits in with an Interwar configuration."
Suprin nodded, [Ok, follow me,] she then spun on her heel and strode into the room we'd been standing in front of the whole time, I set off at a jog after her but slowed instantly as I entered, a familiar sense of awe welled up inside me as I looked around, craning my head to look every which way at all the stuff crammed into the room, trying to take it all in at once just like I did when Dad would take me to a museum when I was little...
I just had time for that depressing thought to register when my plump booty bumped into something solid, I jumped with a yip and turned around, noting I'd walked into what looked suspiciously like a Hot Tub as I tried to ignore Repulse's giggling.
[This is where I conduct refits,] Suprin explained as she started rummaging through the drawers on an adjacent workbench, [now, Strip!]
I froze as heat blossomed in my cheeks, managing to squeak "what?"
[Strip!] Suprin ordered firmly, looking up from her search to glare at me, [the repair bath works best when the occupant is naked, unless you want to be awake while I work on your Rigging?]
My mind flashed back to emptiness, the feeling of ants roaming my body, of tiny red hot knifes cutting into my flesh and of hooks tearing pieces away into the blackness...
"I'll be good," I said in a small voice, I avoided looking at either Suprin or Repulse and obediently started removing my clothing, albeit clumsy and robotic at first, when I had finished I stood there silently, waiting my next instruction while trying to ignore the way my hair was tickling the top of my bum.
[Arms up!] I lifted my arms and "EEPED!" as a tape measure encircled my chest then pulled against my boobs.
[Hold still!] Suprin commanded as the tape measure moved to just underneath my boobs, then down to my waist, then Suprin moved my hair aside and Repulse whistled appreciatively as the tape measure went around my hips.
I let out a breath I'd been holding as Suprin released the tape measure and went back to her workbench, then I jumped as a light Smack came down on my right buttcheek, I spun round, clutching my bum and glared at Repulse, who was grinning unrepentantly.
"Such a shapely stern," Repulse smiled teasingly, "and with just the right amount of jiggle. You'll have no trouble stopping traffic with that booty."
My face grew hot and I pointedly ignored my roommate as I turned back to the bath, Suprin giving my a pointed look.
The moment my foot entered the water I had to bite my lip to keep from moaning aloud, in my past life there'd been a thing about girls and baths but now I think I'm beginning to understand, as more of my body is immersed the Warmth that seeps into my body feels almost indecent, my bum touches the bottom and I look back to check my positioning, scooching my bum back a bit I lean back and as my boobs dip below the surface my back stops on some kind of rest, my neck falling onto a another.
Lying there I'm nearly overwhelmed by the sheer Luxuriousness I'm feeling and fail to hold back a moan.
[Yes, you can use the Repair Baths for bathing, No, I'm not making you one,] I pouted at the grinning Princess as Repulse giggled.
I closed my eyes and let the warmth wash over me, my eyes growing heavy by the second, my last thought before drifting off to sleep was 'I could get used to this'.
======================================================================================================
I blinked as the light shone in my eyes, a moment later my sight focused and I recognised the roof of Suprin's workshop.
[You're done, time to get up,] I jumped slightly but calmed as I spotted Suprin sitting on a box waiting for me.
Climbing out Repulse handed me a towel, as I dry off I glance down and catch a glimpse of golden curls through the valley of my boobs.
Earlier I was embarrassed by walking around in bikini bottoms yet her I am, perfectly ok with standing naked in front of two near total strangers? Is it because we're in the Repair Baths? Is it a Ship Spirit thing? Is it because on an instinctual level I understand their my fleetmates?
I shake my head lightly and continue towelling off, It's something I have to get used to I suppose.
Once I'm done Suprin gets up, [ok, here's you clothes and a few sets of underwear. Now, shorts or skirt?]
I though on that for a second, "Um, skirts for now but I could I get shorts to change into later?"
Suprin huffed but did set a skirt on my clothes while setting a mix of skirts and shorts into another, she then plopped a set of bra and panties on top of the skirt, [your a 36DD cup, 25 inch waist and 38 at the hips]
Repulse whistled, "Damn, you'll be beating guys off with a stick."
I blushed as I picked up the bra, which now I looked was rather low cut, "I like girls," I admitted shyly as I slipped the garment on.
[Well you'll have no shortage of prospects here then,] Suprin opined, [and for future reference, 38 inch hips is a medium by US measurements of size 10 for British.]
I was momentarily distracted from doing the clasp of my bra by the impressive amount of cleavage on display, 'I wonder if I could distract Shipgirls by wearing only a push up on top?'
I then realised what Suprin said, "Size 10 or Medium for 38 inch booty, got it."
Suprin threw my bikini bottoms at my face, luckily I'd clasped my bra and had hands free to catch them, slipping them on I quickly moved on to the skirt, which was surprisingly short and probably wouldn't reach mid-thigh, I slipped it on and moved to the sailor shirt which went over my head without issue, though as I pulled my hair through the collar I noted it seemed to ride a little higher than before.
Tying my neckerchief, I turned back to Suprin.
[Good, now summon your Rigging,] she ordered.
I close my eyes and try to recapture the feeling I'd felt when I'd got Mad with that Bitch in the Summoning Chamber, after what felt like an age I felt it, grasped it and pulled...
I felt a weight settle on my hips and even with my eyes shut I had a good picture of the room around me, although...
"Am I swaying?" I asked, slightly worried by the faint sensation.
"A little," Repulse admitted.
[It's just the Cage Mast,] Suprin assured me as she made a quick inspection of my Rigging.
Looking down I saw my Rigging was now a pseudo-waterline model of my hull, my bow had been split in two and the halves hung on my left and right, each half had a twin 16" turret mounted on the outer side of the halves of my bow, the other pair of turrets were mounted on arms attached to a small midships section that formed a sort of backpack (no idea where the stern is) which the bow sections also hinged off of, the majority of my secondaries and AA are on a raised hull section on the back of the bow sections, the midships section also mounted a cage mast and a smokestack.
The only thing that I found off putting was that it was all still made from the corroded black metal of my old Rigging.
[Everything seems in order,] Suprin noted, finishing her inspection, [now...] she was interrupted by a rumble.
I looked down at my exposed midriff, how can such a flat belly make such a loud noise?
[Alright, time to get lunch,] Suprin amended, then started shooing us out, [go on! Shoo!]
I stumbled a little as I collected my cape on my way out, I was clasping it when we were pushed out the front door.
"Well, I know where we're going next," Repulse said cheerily, "come on, I'll introduce you to everyone!"
Repulse ignored my protests as she dragged me across the base by one hand.
===============================================================================================================================
I glance down at my tray as I follow Repulse to a table, wondering how Repulse maintains such a trim figure if she regularly eats this much.
Eventually she stops at a table with a carrier and three cruisers, "hey everyone, this is my new roommate, Lexington, she's joining our squadron."
"Hi," I greeted, shyness overwhelming me once more as they all looked at me.
"That's Wasp," Repulse indicated the Wo, "those are Exeter and York," indicating the two heavy cruisers, "and that's Hermione," finally introducing the light cruiser.
"Welcome to the Fleet, Wo," Wasp greeted me with a smile as I sat down.
"Hey there," "Hi," the two heavy cruisers waved.
"I look forward to getting to know you," the bushy haired brunette, greeted me formally.
"Me too," I agreed as I sat down beside Repulse, who quickly drew me into a conversation with my new fleetmates.
Honestly, this doesn't seem so bad.
First Battle and Kongo's Bongos
"Why are we here again?" I asked over the squadron frequency, damp and thoroughly miserable as a light squall blew overhead.
"Because the Java Sea Princess told Darwin she wanted us here?" Repulse replied dryly, brushing her damp bangs out of her face.
"I mean HERE specifically," I clarified as a flight of Helldivers flew over me, returning to Wasp, "If I didn't know she was a Bitch to Darwin from my Summoning, I'd think she meant us as some kind of ambush party with the way we're hugging this island."
"Lexi has a point," York piped up from the far side of the formation with Hermione, Havoc and Hotspur, "she basically told us to make this island our waifu."
"I'd rather make her my waifu," a youthful voice cut in.
"Vampire stop ogling Atago," I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose as Stuart scolded our answer to Ashigara.
"Not like I can do much else at this range," the destroyer that looked like she'd stepped out of a Gothic horror film retorted, "besides, hard not to stare the way her fuel tanks bounce around li..."
"Yes, Yes, Atago has impressive "displacement" for a "Treaty" cruiser," I cut in irritated, "now where is the kindergarten?"
"..."
"Stuart, please tell me you can see them?" I begged the slightly more responsible of our destroyers.
"Can't say that - sorry," the destroyer leader apologized.
There's only one place they could have gone, "Voyager, Vendetta, Waterhen, get over here Double Time! Repulse, Exeter, ready to empty your tubes just off the headland. Wasp, start steaming for York's group, recall your CAP as you go and send up another flight of fighters as you go, launch attack aircraft as you're able," thinking quickly I snapped out orders.
"Who put you in-OW!" Vampire tried to protest.
"Acknowledged!" Stuart ignored her friend cursing her out.
"Confirmed, Launching Fighters - Wo," Wasp confirmed, loading a cartridge into her 1903 as she passed me on her way to the far side of the formation.
"Tubes Ready," Exeter announced as I turned to face the likely point the flanking force would come from, my crew signaled torpedo readiness as I sailed into position.
"Fire All Tubes," sixteen torpedoes (six from Exeter, eight from me, two from Repulse) splashed into the water and sped towards the corner of the island.
"They're pushing on the main force!" Stuart called out over the radio, "Big sevens leading the Fuso and Ise sisters, supported by Atago, Takao, Myoko and Aoba, There's two div's worth of destroy... SHIT!"
I looked over my shoulder and caught Stuart and Vampire shaking water out of their hair as something kicked up a lot of spray as it sped past them.
"Shimakaze is making a run on Java!" Stuart reported, "they're pushing into the gap she's made in the line!"
"Anything on our side?" I asked as my mind raced, if I remembered correctly then Shima had enough firepower in her small frame to put Java on the bottom and the speed to escape retaliation while simultaneously causing enough of a distraction for the rest of the fleet to force a breakthrough, or just blow a hole for the Heavies to zerg rush through.
We needed to pull back, ideally with whatever of Java's units were caught on this side of the breach.
"Eight late model I-class, a pair of Ne-class and a Carrier Demon," Stuart replied, the chatter of automatic weapons in the background, "they've pushed through the line and are hooking behind Java's center."
We need to leave, Now. "Herd them towards us, then we'll fall.."
*BOOM*
I had just enough time to realize one of my Water Mines had hit something and spin on the spot before a body collided with me, reflexively I wrapped my arms the figure and suddenly found myself straining to hold them up, something long and metallic grazed the back of my legs and I finally looked down to find a single amber eye peering up from my cleavage.
While I struggled to process the absurdity of my current situation, my lookouts reported half a dozen destroyers huddled together a short distance away, watching in fear and anxiety.
Two of them started forwards, arms outstretched, I snapped my head up and barked at them, "Stay Where You Are!"
The two came to a halt, "Okasan?"
Okas... Oh You Are Shitting Me?!
I looked down at the cruiser getting familiar with my chest pillows and yes there's quite the family resemblance. I thought there was a rule against family members serving in the same unit... maybe that's just the US.
"It'll be alright girls," I restrained my reaction as the cruiser's voice sent pleasant shivers through my boobs.
"If I see a gun or launcher twitch, I'll drop her," I threatened, the criminally cute destroyer girls nodded enthusiastically so I used the time to think in spite of the pleasant distractions offered by the shipgirl hugging me shivering in fear against sensitive parts of my body.
"Alright, I'm going to carry your leader to the shoreline, once there she's going ashore and staying there, you are then going to join her and stay out of the rest of the battle," I instructed the destroyers, "no shooting, no launching torpedoes, no AA fire, sit out the rest of the fighting and we'll pretend you aren't there, otherwise..."
The sound of Repulse and Exeter's main breeches slamming shut drove the point home.
"Promise not to drop Okasan?" one of the two brunettes that tried to approach asked.
"I promise," the two girls nodded and set off for the shore, the others following shortly after, I waited for a second to signal the others to stay in position before heading for the island myself.
"Why are you doing this?" the cruiser asked while I thanked whatever God was listening Suprin had been able to upgrade my belt as her death grip would probably have cost me a few ribs otherwise.
"Because I'm not a Monster," I told her, adjusting my grip as her submerged feet caught on something as we passed, "Lady Darwin saved me, my spirit at least, from the breakers torch. Perhaps it's because I'm a Cherry Tree ship that never got to serve, maybe it's because Darwin summoned me but my mind isn't clouded by hate or anger so I'm able to experience more, feel more than most others of my kind. Still have to follow Orders though."
"Cherry tree?" the cruiser asked, a little confused.
"Of all I said, that's what you focus on?" I chuckled, "Cherry tree, cut down by Washington."
"Oh," the cruiser said quietly as we reached the shallows, it was like all the energy had drained out of her... possible flooding in her boiler rooms, I mean her ankles are underwater and she probably lost at least one foot.
I stopped as her feet brushed the rising sand of the beach, holding her steady as she set her left foot on the submerged beach then her right leg collapsed when she tried that one.
The two Moe-botes that had approached earlier and practically molded themselves to their mother's sides, one under each armpit, I gently released my grip and let the two bare the weight, "remember, no more fighting today."
"Hai!" the Moe-bote on the right acknowledged as the cruiser adjusted her grip.
"We've got you Okasan," the one on the left announced as I let go, straining under the weight for a second before the pair started helping their mother hobble up the beach where the other four destroyers were watching in an anxious huddle, I winced in sympathy as the woman's right leg left the water missing everything from the ankle down.
I nodded, more to myself than the destroyers, and turned around to return to my squadron.
"You sure this was a good idea?" Vampire radioed as I returned.
"Six modern destroyers and a cruiser out of action for a single torpedo?" a voice with a mixed British/American accent countered, "anyone else know of a win like that?"
"They'll spend more resources patching that cruiser up than it would take to summon her again, not ta mention tying up a repair berth," a Louisianan voice added.
"There's a second force approaching round the headland - Wo, another Desron, three light cruiseers and two battlecruisers - Wo," Wasp reported.
"and they have a Yamato," Stuart added, I felt a drop in my boilers' pressure, "It's engaging Java though."
Thank You merciful Heaven.
"We're pulling out!" I radioed to the squadron, "Form Up around the carriers, Stuart, Vampire, Voyager, you're leading, remaining destroyers standard escort formation. Cruisers, half moon behind the carriers, Repulse, you're with - OW! Sonuva... QUIT IT!" I screamed at the cruisers peppering my superstructure with their popguns.
"Sorry, Can't Do That!" one of the cruisers (the Sendai sisters my lookouts reported) replied cheekily, ducking down as my secondaries returned the favour, I split my secondaries between the one with long hair and the one with two buns. Must have been a shock to find yourself taking fire from a ship that had as many secondary guns as you and your sister had primaries while also being heavier calibre.
A siren from my left hip announced the arrival of a batch of biplane bombers, my 5"/25s opening up instantly along with the chatter of the 1.1"s to my pleasant surprise, but a flight of fighters from Wasp intercepted them before they could drop their payloads.
'Now, that just leaves the ba...'
"There! Two Ta-class!"
Of course it had to be the Kongos.
"Take the lead, Hiei!"
Is it a fair fight, even if they are specced to their second remodel?
"Leave it to me, Oneesama. FIRE!"
I swerve right and cut my speed as my spotters catch the muzzle flashes, the shells straddling roughly where I would have been, straightening out my fire directors zero in on the second kongo.
"Nice shooting, Now to unleash my BURNING..."
*BOOM*
"Dess!"
Sorry Dess-bote.
"Oneesama!"
I took the opportunity presented by Hiei's distraction to turn away and go to Flank, I quickly made it out of effective range of the cruisers with the only difficulty being a torpedo spread from the second kindergarten squadron that my lookouts spotted and I deftly hopped over each torpedo that came close.
My lookouts also reported one of the Moe-botes looked quite put out by this and was cutely chanting "but that's cheating!" over and over.
I caught up to Repulse who was waiting with Stuart, Vampire and Voyager, "the rest pulling back?" I asked as I slowed to avoid a collision.
Repulse nodded, "we're the last."
"Did you have to shoot her in the Boobs?" Vampire asked grumpily, arms crossed under her corseted, and admittedly impressive for a destroyer, chest.
"What?" I squeaked, my cheeks burning up as a vision of what my fire director operators had been seeing popped into my mind. (I didn't know you could see Fairies' memories?) "I was aiming for center of Mass!"
"Enough!" Repulse interrupted, "we Need to leave."
"Yeah, they're nearly done with Java," Stuart agreed.
I turned to the main fight just in time to see Java scream to the heavens as something touched off her magazines, I shielded my eyes from the Flash and once the smoke and flame cleared I felt my eyes drawn to one of the combatants.
Instantly I'm filled with the regret that I've never seen a steel battleship up close, that I could never witness the strange magnificence and majesty these mighty craft possessed with my own eyes and that this particular class were never to see the battle for which they were intended..
I blinked and I am gazing into the deepest, softest amethyst eyes in the world, my boilers fluttering in my chest, my rangefinders adjust a little and I'm seeing the face of an Angel, framed by purple tinted bangs and a golden chrysanthemum around her neck, 'Beautiful.'
The Angel's cheeks redden a little and she looks away with the corners of her mouth twitching.
"Oof," I rubbed my side where Repulse had elbowed me.
"We. Are. Leaving," Repulse stated and turned to steam off towards the rest of the squadron, I glanced back towards the Shipgirls before following, the destroyers falling in beside us.
"So," Stuart piped up as the last of the planes shadowing turned back, "not bad for a first battle, eh?"
I smiled as relief filled my weary body, idly ignoring the sensation of ants crawling inside me as my crew set about repairs, "no, no it wasn't, was it."
"We actually came out ahead here, coming away a desron, two cruisers and a carrier demon stronger," Repulse agreed, rolling her left arm to test it's range of motion, her sleeve was torn and burned where a large caliber shell had hit.
"Best of all, Lexi can't get on my butt about ogling my shipgirl waifu anymore," Vampire perked up, then got bopped on the head by Stuart.
My cheeks burned up again, and I can almost hear the safety valves on my boilers popping, "she's not my waifu, I haven't even met her."
"You'd like her to be," Vampire teased, dodging Stuart this time.
My whole face is burning now, "even if we weren't on opposite sides of the War, I'm sure she could do a lot better than me."
"I don't know," Repulse mused, "I wasn't lying when I said you are a catch, Lexi."
"Can we just focus on getting Home, I really want a hot bath after all this," the girls just laughed but thankfully moved on from my budding crush.
===============================================================================================
It was always stressful waiting for his Shipgirls to return from a Mission, unlike some in the JMSDF he saw them as people, not machines. Which made it hurt more every time one was injured, or Kami forbid, sunk.
Thankfully everyone had returned this time, a not so minor Miracle considering they had mobilized against one of the more active Abyssal Princesses in the western Pacific and something his counterparts in the USN and RAN had congratulated him on already.
A knock on his door interrupted his musings, "Come!" he ordered, straightening in his chair.
The door opened and his secretary ship, Ooyodo, entered with a number of folders,"Teitoku-sama, I have the After Action Reports from the squadron leaders for you."
"Very good," Goto said as the folders were placed in front of him, he opened the first and began reading, "can you give me a brief overview?"
"Yes sir," Ooyodo opened her own folder and read her notes, "at 13:47 hours scouts from the First Carrier Division identified the lead elements of the fleet belonging to the Java Sea Princess. At 14:07 hours First Air Flotilla scouts confirmed the presence of the three divisions known to serve the Java Sea Princess as well as the Princess herself. At 14:17 hours Second Battleship Division is detached to flank the main Abyssal force by circling round an island to the south, accompanied by light cruisers Sendai, Jintsu and Naka, Destroyer squadron 6, light cruiser Tenryu leading and Destroyer Squadron 5, light cruiser Tatsuta leading.
At 14:41 hours, Destroyer Squadron 6 increases speed to scout for the flanking force, simultaneously Fast Battleship Kongo orders the launch of a float plane to perform aerial reconnaissance. At 15:03 hours scout plane from light cruiser Jintsu reports the position of a Fourth Abyssal squadron seemingly at anchor almost ahead of the Flanking Force, seemingly positioned as if to counter such a strategy."
He frowned and looked up at his secretary, "how did we not notice Java acquiring another squadron? that could have been disastrous, it should have been disastrous."
"Tenryu reported the flagship claimed to have been 'saved' by the Darwin Princess, so it's possible that squadron was on loan for the engagement," Ooyodo answered, checking her notes.
"Darwin?" Goto repeated, glancing to the map on the wall, "now why would she lend ships to Java? Why would an Abyssal Princess allow their ships to be used by another in the first place?"
"Darwin has always been a bit of a mystery," Ooyodo reported sadly, "after occupying the base she's been almost completely passive, only responding to efforts to remove her but otherwise content to ignore us or the RAN. Her fleet on the other hand is seemingly something of a joke according to decoded radio intercepts, apparently the other Princesses force her to take the scraps leading to the name of the 'Fleet of Samples', it's possible they forced her to lend her ships to the fight."
He had the feeling that something wasn't quite right here, "but if I recall Darwin has two full battle squadrons of Ru-class with requisite cruisers, destroyers and carriers, a third partial squadron and the largest concentration of So-class in the Pacific, the only Princess that could defeat her without massive losses is Midway, on top of that Darwin is an Installation class so probably has dry dock, if not manufacturing ability, that alone makes her one of if not the most important Princess in the Pacific."
"I can only assume she is lesser in the other Princesses eyes for her lack of direct combat ability or history," Ooyodo suggested, "shall I continue?"
Goto nodded so she picked up where she left off, "at 15:09 hours the scout plane is forced to retreat by a flight of Abyssal fighters, while retreating it reports the composition of the Abyssal force: a Wo-class, two Ta-class, two Ne-class, one Tsu-class, two Ha-class and five Ro-class."
"Interesting composition," Goto observed.
"At 15:05 hours First Fleet begins their assault on Java Sea Princess and her main forces, initial engagement is evenly matched but at 15:12 hours destroyer Shimakaze exploits an opening in Java's line to create a gap through which First Battleship Division charges, dividing Java's line and allowing battleships Nagato, Mutsu and Yamato to engage Java directly while Third Battleship Division continues pressing the main line. The remaining left flank of Java's line, consisting of eight I-class, two Ne-class and an Aircraft Carrier Demon regroup with Darwin squadron and the combined force begins withdrawing at 15:39 hours.
At 15:18 hours Destroyer Squadron 6 rounded the headland of the island, preparing to Attack the Fourth Abyssal squadron but are forced to begin evasive maneuvers as they are met by a spread of torpedoes, initial evasion is successful but a second spread is immediately behind the first and Tenryu is hit," Ooyodo stopped as Goto's head snapped up.
"I was informed there were no casualties," Goto stated while managing to keep his voice even, losing a Shipgirl is bad enough but the Death of a natural born Shipgirl was nearly unthinkable.
Ooyodo shook her head, "there aren't but we were extremely lucky. Tenryu, although mortally wounded, retains her forward momentum, colliding with and is caught by one of the Ta-class. Now here is where things get strange as the Ta bargains with Destroyer Squadron 6, specifically it offers to carry Tenryu to safety on the shore in exchange for Destroyer Squadron 6 taking no further part in the battle with a further promise that they would in turn would ignore Destroyer Squadron 6 as long as they kept to the bargain.
I understand you have questions, we all do, but the full account is in the report so I'll continue. Upon the verbal agreement of Destroyer's Inazuma and Ikazuchi, both parties proceeded to the nearby shoreline, during this time Tenryu and the Ta held a short conversation where the Ta speculated the reason she hadn't just dropped her was either because her steel hull hadn't been completed due to the Washington treaty or because the Darwin Princess had summoned her thus leaving her lacking the blind hatred and rage typical of her kind, on reaching the shore Destroyer Squadron 6 proceeded onto the beach barring Inazuma and Ikazuchi who waited for Tenryu's arrival, taking Tenryu from the Ta and carrying her up the beach, the Ta reminded them of the agreement then returned to it's squadron.
There is a pause of roughly two minutes where the Ta converses with it's fleet mates before the rest of the Flanking Force arrives, with Sendai, Jintsu and Naka engaging the now retreating force, initially the Abyssals are content to engage with their secondaries until Kongo and Hiei engage, however the first salvo from the negotiating Ta lands three hits on Kongo which causes a commotion as Hiei checks on her sister, the Darwin force uses the distraction to disengage.
At 15:43 hours battleship Yamato sinks Java Sea Princess and the remaining Abyssals break off and retreat with only the Darwin force leaving in good order and condition, battleship Nagato makes the decision not to pursue. I believe that is all in brief, Teitoku-sama," Ooyodo concludes, closing her file.
"In short, we accomplished our primary objective but a not insignificant force belonging to one of the biggest mysteries in the Pacific theatre was able to escape with little more than scratched paint whilst also being bolstered by a significant part of Java's surviving Abyssals, on top of that we have an Abyssal that not only only acts out of character but unintentionally contradicts nearly everything we thought we knew about how Abyssals manage their forces?" Goto summarized, already he could feel the beginnings of a migraine building.
"Hai," Ooyodo acknowledges with an apologetic smile, "shall I request some Aspirin from the Medical Officer?"
Goto shook his head, "I have some in my desk, thank you. You are dismissed."
Ooyodo bowed and returned to her desk.
Reading in silence, He had to admit that despite the impending headache this Ta and Darwin in general posed he was grateful, both for sparing the life of one of his Shipgirls but also their apparent unwillingness to engage. On reaching the report from Akashi on the repairs his Shipgirls were undergoing his gratitude for that unwillingness grew as his eyes panned over the pages for Jintsu, Naka and Kongo, all of whom had been hit by gunfire far heavier than their steel hulls had been designed to.
He reread Kongo's report twice, for all that girl's energy and eccentricity could be off putting, she had started to grow on him...
"TEI - TO - KU!"
If only he could get her to stop literally throwing herself at him.
- Location
- Asian
interesting story please keep up the good works.
i sincerely hope this wont turn grim dark tragedy.
i sincerely hope this wont turn grim dark tragedy.
- Location
- canada
....didnt you already post this???
I'm sorry Admiral, I'm afraid I can't do that.
Anyway, yay a update. Please keep things oddly fluffy.
I cross-posted on spacebattles.
Bathside Chats
I bit my lip to hold back a moan as I sank into the repair bath, the luxurious warmth was a balm to the two dozen or so pinpricks across my ribs and back from the Sendai sister's pea shooters.
I know I shouldn't mock them, deep down, but I'm aching from being used for target practice and 140mm guns are only heavy for a destroyer, popguns for a cruiser and destroyer repellent for a capital ship.
"Well that was a rush," York stated from one of the single berths on the other side of the communal bath.
"All you had to worry about was Shimakaze splashing you with her wake," Exeter retorted from her own berth to my left, "whereas we were doing real fighting."
"And what do you have to show for that real fighting? A stern full of buckshot, you didn't even sink anything!" York shot back.
"Ladies Please?" I interrupted before Exeter could think of climbing out of her berth, "you're both very pretty," that earned around of laughter from the other spectators, "but not sinking anything is probably for the best."
"Lexi's right," Repulse agreed from my left, "no casualties means they don't feel as threatened by us or feel angry and resentful, which combined with our strategic passivity means they're more inclined to ignore us."
"But I don't want to be ignored," Vampire whined from the communal bath.
"You just want Atago to smoosh you into her fuel tanks," Stuart deadpanned, pausing in washing Waterhen's back.
"Well Maybe I aspire to a life filled by more than lounging around on a jetty and being shot at for whatever Royal Bitch is leaning on Darwin this week," Vampire shot back.
Waterhen snorted, "yeah right, and which of us openly reads porn?"
"It's Artistic Erotic Literature!" Vampire protested.
"Do I want to know?" I asked Repulse.
"A novel series about ninja, there are sex scenes but the plot could stand on it's own without them," Repulse then tapped her chin thoughtfully, "actually their cut from the Aussie release."
Making up my mind I turned to the squabbling destroyers, "Hey! Is an action movie a porno because it has one sex scene in it?"
"Thank You!" Vampire threw her arms up triumphantly, "someone gets it!"
"Yes, the other Abyssal crushing on a Shipgirl gets you," Waterhen sarcastically agreed.
I glared at the destroyer as my cheeks burned, "OK, First, today is the first time I've seen Shipgirls in person, I wasn't prepared for how drop-dead Gorgeous they are. Second, I'd rather have a crush on someone well out of my league than be incapable of expressing positive emotions like the Bitches that tread on Darwin all the time."
Waterhen gaped as several bathers hissed.
"Good thing you're in the repair baths after that Burn," York quipped, earning a round of laughter.
"WaitWaitWait..." Voyager interrupted, silencing the room, "Lexi just admitted she's crushing on - oomh..."
I settled back into my berth, cheeks burning, as Voyager spat out the cake of soap I'd thrown into her mouth.
"So who did we pick up after Java went down?" York asked once Voyager stopped gagging.
"Eight modernized four pipers, Northampton, New Orleans and Shinano," Hermione answered without looking up from the book she was reading.
"Shinano!" York, Stuart and I exclaimed.
"The Largest carrier before Nuclear Power!" Stuart said.
"The carrier with the largest aircraft capacity of the Pacific War?!" York added.
"And she has the most modern aircraft the IJN had," I noted thoughtfully, "if we get an IJN carrier she can swap out their aircraft for late war models, or if we refit her she'd have a massive airgroup herself."
"Nearly two hundred, counting spares," Hermione confirmed.
"Spares?" Waterhen asked.
"The IJN's original plan was for Shinano to function something like HMS Unicorn," I explained as a sudden draft sent gust of cold air over the hardening peaks of my exposed breasts, the bath not quick deep enough to cover my surprisingly buoyant bosoms in my current posture, "somewhere between a maintenance and repair vessel and a storage for spare aircraft that would be distributed to other carriers as they lost planes, with an airgroup of about thirty aircraft for self-defense."
"How many spare airframes could she carry-Wo?" Wasp asked from her spot beside Hermione, speaking for the first time.
"About one hundred and fifty," Hermione confirmed to general surprise.
"That's twice what a Lexington could - oh shit, sorry," a new voice exclaimed then apologized, looking up I spotted the two new Nes had entered the baths.
I waved her off, "Darwin saved me before the conversion happened so I don't really remember much other than that I had a Sister."
"Introductions!" York announced peppily, "I'm HMS York, over there beside the Ta with the built-in flotation devices is my sister Exeter," York ducked with a grin as I chucked Exeter's cake of soap at her, "the Ta with the Buoyant Bosoms is USS Lexington,the Wo is USS Wasp, the bookworm is HMS Hermione and the destroyers are the scrap iron flotilla."
"Salutations," "Hi there," "Welcome-Wo."
"Yo," I greeted with a lazy wave.
"I'm USS Northampton," the Ne on the left said with a New England accent, cluing me in to who had first spoken in support of me in sparing Tenryu.
"Ah'm USS New Orleans, a pleasure to meet ya'll," the Ne on the right greeted in a Louisianan accent.
"Cannonball!" Orleans was left spinning in place as eight teen girls ran past her and jumped into the communal bath, startling the Scrap Iron Flotilla before they were soaked by the splash, the five Commonwealth destroyers glared at the unrepentant four pipers.
I turned away as the splashfight began and froze as my eyes landed on the figure in the doorway.
She was almost as tall as Henrietta, atypical for a Carrier Princess her hair was a dark chocolate and her eyes were a bright emerald green that glowed behind old fashioned round glasses, her features were almost identical to the Yamato I now had a crush on (Not sure if it is Yamato herself though, gotta check with Suprin after I'm done here), her body was certainly blessed with feminine curves but she possessed a leaner, toned build than her sister (which unfortunately meant her bosom wasn't quite as bountiful but still upper Nagato territory), wrapped in a fluffy white towel and gazing uncertainly around the room, eventually her eyes fell on me.
I gestured to the empty berth to my right, the demon lit up with a shocked look but started to walk around the pool after a quick glance around, I didn't watch her as she walked around the edge of the communal pool as I didn't want to make her feel anymore uncomfortable than she already was.
I glanced to her as she stopped by the berth, I nodded to the empty berth then looked away to give her a modicum of privacy, after a second I heard her towel fall to the floor and her entering the water.
I waited for several seconds to let her get settled in the bath before looking back to her.
She was sitting against the back of the wall, her arms covering her chest (which due to her height were barely submerged), her green eyes even brighter without her glasses to obscure them and avoiding meeting my gaze while blushing cutely.
I gave her a warm smile, "it's alright, we're all girls here so you don't need to hide anything, we won't judge you."
She glanced up nervously, I nodded encouragingly, and she looked down and unfolded her arms.
I will admit to the twinge of jealousy as her large, gravity defying, perfectly shaped breastswere revealed, but that was swiftly squashed by a flush of heat in my loins as a tiny, not so inhibited part of my mind reminded me that this was but a glimpse of what my crush possessed under that neat, white shirt.
I ignored the heat in my cheeks and met her eyes again, "I'm Lexington, behind me is Repulse."
"Hello there," the British battlecruiser greeted with no attempt to hide her amusement.
"My name is Shinano," oh crap, could she sound anymore Cute and Innocent? "it is a pleasure to meet you."
I smiled warmly, "Welcome to Fleet Darwin."
========================================================================================================================
In her time as a Shipgirl, Houston could say she'd seen many things she and her crew had once considered impossible outside cartoons.
In her time at Sasebo she'd learned that the Yokosuka Naval Base was a magnet for such things and today was no exception.
Even before the fleet had returned, rumours had been flying left and right.
Well it was a naval base.
But as she watched a subdued (and one footed) Tenryu be carried into the repair baths and fussed over by her sister Tatsuta while a gaggle of very anxious destroyers (including Tenryu's biological daughters) hovered over the pair, she was left wondering if perhaps once again truth would prove stranger than fiction.
Her attention was diverted from the group by a pained hiss to her left, turning her head showed one of the Sendai sisters easing herself into the berth next to her, her arms, neck and breasts pock-marked by angry red welts.
"What happened to you?" Houston gasped on recognizing the girl, had the fighting really been that fierce?
"I got into an artillery duel with a Ta's secondaries, unfortunately they had enough six inch guns to engage me and Naka at the same time," Jintsuu replied with a smile that disappeared as the water rose above her breasts and touched the welts below her neck.
A whimper drew both girl's attention to Sendai, who was being lowered into the water of her own berth by Atago and Naka and looked like she'd been used for target practice by several cruisers.
"Sendai had the undivided attention of the other Ta and a Ne," Jintsuu explained, worry for her sister plain to hear.
"Wait, how is she alive?" Houston asked in surprise, when a Ta focused on a shipgirl bad things happened to that shipgirl.
"For whatever reason the Ta refrained from using her main battery, the Ne on the other hand..." both girls flinched as Sendai screamed when the water reached a 3" hole in her side, almost causing Atago and a tear-eyed Naka to drop her but they both continued to gently lower the whimpering girl into the bath. Atago whispering comforting words as they did and staying to comfort the softly crying light cruiser, hugging and running her hands through Sendai's hair as they waited for the bath to work it's magic.
"We are fortunate they weren't interested in staying to fight," Jintsuu admitted.
"But I heard it was a near total success?" Houston asked, wondering just how far off the rumour mill was this time.
"We sank Java and most of her fleet, yes," Jintsuu acknowledged, "but there was another force we hadn't known of that quite handily checked our flanking attack, damaged Kongo and Sendai and sank Tenryu."
Houston stared at Jintsuu, then at Tenryu (still being fussed over by Tatsuta with the Destroyer audience in the adjacent berth), then back to Jintsuu, to Tenryu, to Jintsuu, Tenryu, Jintsuu, Tenryu, Jintsuu... "how is she here if she was sunk?"
"Well, apparently the unexpected force we encountered had predicted our flanking attack and launched torpedoes as a preemptive measure, most were evaded except one, which hit Tenryu," Jintsuu looked over at the light cruiser who was holding one of her daughter's hands.
"That still doesn't explain how she got back," Houston pointed out.
"She retained enough momentum to collide with the Ta Naka and I would later engage, who bargained to carry Tenryu to safety in exchange for a truce, Desdiv 6 agreed and they sat out the battle when we caught up to them," Jintsuu clarified, waving to someone entering the Baths.
"But how did she get back if she was fatally hit?" Houston pressed, thoroughly nonplussed.
"I carried Tenryu-san home," a soft, almost melodic voice replied.
"Hwah..." Houston turned around to look at the speaker and came face to... a rather nice set of lightly toned and feminine abs, raising her eyes brought her to an impossibly perky, perfectly shaped, larger-than-New-Jersey-sized bosom, Houston gulped as the owner sat down, a blush on her beautiful cheeks but otherwise not observably bothered and making no attempt to cover her nakedness beyond immersion in the bathwater.
"Hello Yamato-san, how did the debriefing go?" Jintsuu greeted the new arrival.
"It went well I think, Arigato Jintsuu-san," the super-battleship replied with a smile, "it is nice to be sent on a mission again, it has been so long since I have felt useful."
"I don't know how the battle against Java would have gone without you," Jintsuu said, returning the smile then looking over the now rather packed Baths, "certainly we would have lost someone."
"Gotta admit, there've been too many times I wished New Jersey was able to be sent out with us," Houston agreed, rubbing a scar on her arm from the time Intelligence had missed a Heavy Cruiser Princess moving into the Phillipines, her squadron had sailed right into it on route to a mission and had to make a fighting retreat, "but that's why they keep shipgirls like you and Jersey on hand even with the resource shortages here, so you're there for exactly when we need you."
"Gomen-ne, Houston-san," Yamato thanked with a grateful smile.
"So you carried her all the way back?" Houston brought the conversation back on track.
"Hai, it was not too difficult despite Tenryu-san having her rigging deployed the whole time, her displacement is many times less than mine," Yamato replied, then rubbed her arms and released a relieved sigh, "although I admit being relieved when we reached the Landing Stage and I could put her down.."
Houston's response was cut off by the building shaking in time to pounding feet.
"TEI-TO-KU!"
"It seems Kongo-senpai has recovered well from her battle damage," Yamato noted with a giggle.
Houston smiled but after a moment it turned wistful, "you know, for all we joke about her infatuation with Admiral Goto, I'm happy for her. I hope I find someone to Love unconditionally like that."
Houston, looking away, didn't see the mischievous glint in Jintsuu's eyes.
"I don't know about you, Houston, but I think there's someone for Yamato-san," Jintsuu observed with a slight teasing note to her voice.
"Really?" Houston looked at Jintsuu, who nodded, and a nervous but hopeful Yamato.
"A certain Ta might be persuaded to defect if asked nicely by a certain - HEY," any further protest reverted to squeals as the light cruiser was subjected to repeated splashing.
Houston swam back out of the line of fire and saw that Yamato's blush reached down her neck and to the tops of her breasts.
After a few moments some destroyers saw what was happening and wanted to join in the splashfight, eventually convincing the two to join them in the communal pool for round two.
Leaning against the back rest Houston smiled as the splashfight started again, grateful for both the Magic of the baths making the aches and pains vanish and for the fact there was a place where they could just be girls.
I know I shouldn't mock them, deep down, but I'm aching from being used for target practice and 140mm guns are only heavy for a destroyer, popguns for a cruiser and destroyer repellent for a capital ship.
"Well that was a rush," York stated from one of the single berths on the other side of the communal bath.
"All you had to worry about was Shimakaze splashing you with her wake," Exeter retorted from her own berth to my left, "whereas we were doing real fighting."
"And what do you have to show for that real fighting? A stern full of buckshot, you didn't even sink anything!" York shot back.
"Ladies Please?" I interrupted before Exeter could think of climbing out of her berth, "you're both very pretty," that earned around of laughter from the other spectators, "but not sinking anything is probably for the best."
"Lexi's right," Repulse agreed from my left, "no casualties means they don't feel as threatened by us or feel angry and resentful, which combined with our strategic passivity means they're more inclined to ignore us."
"But I don't want to be ignored," Vampire whined from the communal bath.
"You just want Atago to smoosh you into her fuel tanks," Stuart deadpanned, pausing in washing Waterhen's back.
"Well Maybe I aspire to a life filled by more than lounging around on a jetty and being shot at for whatever Royal Bitch is leaning on Darwin this week," Vampire shot back.
Waterhen snorted, "yeah right, and which of us openly reads porn?"
"It's Artistic Erotic Literature!" Vampire protested.
"Do I want to know?" I asked Repulse.
"A novel series about ninja, there are sex scenes but the plot could stand on it's own without them," Repulse then tapped her chin thoughtfully, "actually their cut from the Aussie release."
Making up my mind I turned to the squabbling destroyers, "Hey! Is an action movie a porno because it has one sex scene in it?"
"Thank You!" Vampire threw her arms up triumphantly, "someone gets it!"
"Yes, the other Abyssal crushing on a Shipgirl gets you," Waterhen sarcastically agreed.
I glared at the destroyer as my cheeks burned, "OK, First, today is the first time I've seen Shipgirls in person, I wasn't prepared for how drop-dead Gorgeous they are. Second, I'd rather have a crush on someone well out of my league than be incapable of expressing positive emotions like the Bitches that tread on Darwin all the time."
Waterhen gaped as several bathers hissed.
"Good thing you're in the repair baths after that Burn," York quipped, earning a round of laughter.
"WaitWaitWait..." Voyager interrupted, silencing the room, "Lexi just admitted she's crushing on - oomh..."
I settled back into my berth, cheeks burning, as Voyager spat out the cake of soap I'd thrown into her mouth.
"So who did we pick up after Java went down?" York asked once Voyager stopped gagging.
"Eight modernized four pipers, Northampton, New Orleans and Shinano," Hermione answered without looking up from the book she was reading.
"Shinano!" York, Stuart and I exclaimed.
"The Largest carrier before Nuclear Power!" Stuart said.
"The carrier with the largest aircraft capacity of the Pacific War?!" York added.
"And she has the most modern aircraft the IJN had," I noted thoughtfully, "if we get an IJN carrier she can swap out their aircraft for late war models, or if we refit her she'd have a massive airgroup herself."
"Nearly two hundred, counting spares," Hermione confirmed.
"Spares?" Waterhen asked.
"The IJN's original plan was for Shinano to function something like HMS Unicorn," I explained as a sudden draft sent gust of cold air over the hardening peaks of my exposed breasts, the bath not quick deep enough to cover my surprisingly buoyant bosoms in my current posture, "somewhere between a maintenance and repair vessel and a storage for spare aircraft that would be distributed to other carriers as they lost planes, with an airgroup of about thirty aircraft for self-defense."
"How many spare airframes could she carry-Wo?" Wasp asked from her spot beside Hermione, speaking for the first time.
"About one hundred and fifty," Hermione confirmed to general surprise.
"That's twice what a Lexington could - oh shit, sorry," a new voice exclaimed then apologized, looking up I spotted the two new Nes had entered the baths.
I waved her off, "Darwin saved me before the conversion happened so I don't really remember much other than that I had a Sister."
"Introductions!" York announced peppily, "I'm HMS York, over there beside the Ta with the built-in flotation devices is my sister Exeter," York ducked with a grin as I chucked Exeter's cake of soap at her, "the Ta with the Buoyant Bosoms is USS Lexington,the Wo is USS Wasp, the bookworm is HMS Hermione and the destroyers are the scrap iron flotilla."
"Salutations," "Hi there," "Welcome-Wo."
"Yo," I greeted with a lazy wave.
"I'm USS Northampton," the Ne on the left said with a New England accent, cluing me in to who had first spoken in support of me in sparing Tenryu.
"Ah'm USS New Orleans, a pleasure to meet ya'll," the Ne on the right greeted in a Louisianan accent.
"Cannonball!" Orleans was left spinning in place as eight teen girls ran past her and jumped into the communal bath, startling the Scrap Iron Flotilla before they were soaked by the splash, the five Commonwealth destroyers glared at the unrepentant four pipers.
I turned away as the splashfight began and froze as my eyes landed on the figure in the doorway.
She was almost as tall as Henrietta, atypical for a Carrier Princess her hair was a dark chocolate and her eyes were a bright emerald green that glowed behind old fashioned round glasses, her features were almost identical to the Yamato I now had a crush on (Not sure if it is Yamato herself though, gotta check with Suprin after I'm done here), her body was certainly blessed with feminine curves but she possessed a leaner, toned build than her sister (which unfortunately meant her bosom wasn't quite as bountiful but still upper Nagato territory), wrapped in a fluffy white towel and gazing uncertainly around the room, eventually her eyes fell on me.
I gestured to the empty berth to my right, the demon lit up with a shocked look but started to walk around the pool after a quick glance around, I didn't watch her as she walked around the edge of the communal pool as I didn't want to make her feel anymore uncomfortable than she already was.
I glanced to her as she stopped by the berth, I nodded to the empty berth then looked away to give her a modicum of privacy, after a second I heard her towel fall to the floor and her entering the water.
I waited for several seconds to let her get settled in the bath before looking back to her.
She was sitting against the back of the wall, her arms covering her chest (which due to her height were barely submerged), her green eyes even brighter without her glasses to obscure them and avoiding meeting my gaze while blushing cutely.
I gave her a warm smile, "it's alright, we're all girls here so you don't need to hide anything, we won't judge you."
She glanced up nervously, I nodded encouragingly, and she looked down and unfolded her arms.
I will admit to the twinge of jealousy as her large, gravity defying, perfectly shaped breastswere revealed, but that was swiftly squashed by a flush of heat in my loins as a tiny, not so inhibited part of my mind reminded me that this was but a glimpse of what my crush possessed under that neat, white shirt.
I ignored the heat in my cheeks and met her eyes again, "I'm Lexington, behind me is Repulse."
"Hello there," the British battlecruiser greeted with no attempt to hide her amusement.
"My name is Shinano," oh crap, could she sound anymore Cute and Innocent? "it is a pleasure to meet you."
I smiled warmly, "Welcome to Fleet Darwin."
========================================================================================================================
In her time as a Shipgirl, Houston could say she'd seen many things she and her crew had once considered impossible outside cartoons.
In her time at Sasebo she'd learned that the Yokosuka Naval Base was a magnet for such things and today was no exception.
Even before the fleet had returned, rumours had been flying left and right.
Well it was a naval base.
But as she watched a subdued (and one footed) Tenryu be carried into the repair baths and fussed over by her sister Tatsuta while a gaggle of very anxious destroyers (including Tenryu's biological daughters) hovered over the pair, she was left wondering if perhaps once again truth would prove stranger than fiction.
Her attention was diverted from the group by a pained hiss to her left, turning her head showed one of the Sendai sisters easing herself into the berth next to her, her arms, neck and breasts pock-marked by angry red welts.
"What happened to you?" Houston gasped on recognizing the girl, had the fighting really been that fierce?
"I got into an artillery duel with a Ta's secondaries, unfortunately they had enough six inch guns to engage me and Naka at the same time," Jintsuu replied with a smile that disappeared as the water rose above her breasts and touched the welts below her neck.
A whimper drew both girl's attention to Sendai, who was being lowered into the water of her own berth by Atago and Naka and looked like she'd been used for target practice by several cruisers.
"Sendai had the undivided attention of the other Ta and a Ne," Jintsuu explained, worry for her sister plain to hear.
"Wait, how is she alive?" Houston asked in surprise, when a Ta focused on a shipgirl bad things happened to that shipgirl.
"For whatever reason the Ta refrained from using her main battery, the Ne on the other hand..." both girls flinched as Sendai screamed when the water reached a 3" hole in her side, almost causing Atago and a tear-eyed Naka to drop her but they both continued to gently lower the whimpering girl into the bath. Atago whispering comforting words as they did and staying to comfort the softly crying light cruiser, hugging and running her hands through Sendai's hair as they waited for the bath to work it's magic.
"We are fortunate they weren't interested in staying to fight," Jintsuu admitted.
"But I heard it was a near total success?" Houston asked, wondering just how far off the rumour mill was this time.
"We sank Java and most of her fleet, yes," Jintsuu acknowledged, "but there was another force we hadn't known of that quite handily checked our flanking attack, damaged Kongo and Sendai and sank Tenryu."
Houston stared at Jintsuu, then at Tenryu (still being fussed over by Tatsuta with the Destroyer audience in the adjacent berth), then back to Jintsuu, to Tenryu, to Jintsuu, Tenryu, Jintsuu, Tenryu, Jintsuu... "how is she here if she was sunk?"
"Well, apparently the unexpected force we encountered had predicted our flanking attack and launched torpedoes as a preemptive measure, most were evaded except one, which hit Tenryu," Jintsuu looked over at the light cruiser who was holding one of her daughter's hands.
"That still doesn't explain how she got back," Houston pointed out.
"She retained enough momentum to collide with the Ta Naka and I would later engage, who bargained to carry Tenryu to safety in exchange for a truce, Desdiv 6 agreed and they sat out the battle when we caught up to them," Jintsuu clarified, waving to someone entering the Baths.
"But how did she get back if she was fatally hit?" Houston pressed, thoroughly nonplussed.
"I carried Tenryu-san home," a soft, almost melodic voice replied.
"Hwah..." Houston turned around to look at the speaker and came face to... a rather nice set of lightly toned and feminine abs, raising her eyes brought her to an impossibly perky, perfectly shaped, larger-than-New-Jersey-sized bosom, Houston gulped as the owner sat down, a blush on her beautiful cheeks but otherwise not observably bothered and making no attempt to cover her nakedness beyond immersion in the bathwater.
"Hello Yamato-san, how did the debriefing go?" Jintsuu greeted the new arrival.
"It went well I think, Arigato Jintsuu-san," the super-battleship replied with a smile, "it is nice to be sent on a mission again, it has been so long since I have felt useful."
"I don't know how the battle against Java would have gone without you," Jintsuu said, returning the smile then looking over the now rather packed Baths, "certainly we would have lost someone."
"Gotta admit, there've been too many times I wished New Jersey was able to be sent out with us," Houston agreed, rubbing a scar on her arm from the time Intelligence had missed a Heavy Cruiser Princess moving into the Phillipines, her squadron had sailed right into it on route to a mission and had to make a fighting retreat, "but that's why they keep shipgirls like you and Jersey on hand even with the resource shortages here, so you're there for exactly when we need you."
"Gomen-ne, Houston-san," Yamato thanked with a grateful smile.
"So you carried her all the way back?" Houston brought the conversation back on track.
"Hai, it was not too difficult despite Tenryu-san having her rigging deployed the whole time, her displacement is many times less than mine," Yamato replied, then rubbed her arms and released a relieved sigh, "although I admit being relieved when we reached the Landing Stage and I could put her down.."
Houston's response was cut off by the building shaking in time to pounding feet.
"TEI-TO-KU!"
"It seems Kongo-senpai has recovered well from her battle damage," Yamato noted with a giggle.
Houston smiled but after a moment it turned wistful, "you know, for all we joke about her infatuation with Admiral Goto, I'm happy for her. I hope I find someone to Love unconditionally like that."
Houston, looking away, didn't see the mischievous glint in Jintsuu's eyes.
"I don't know about you, Houston, but I think there's someone for Yamato-san," Jintsuu observed with a slight teasing note to her voice.
"Really?" Houston looked at Jintsuu, who nodded, and a nervous but hopeful Yamato.
"A certain Ta might be persuaded to defect if asked nicely by a certain - HEY," any further protest reverted to squeals as the light cruiser was subjected to repeated splashing.
Houston swam back out of the line of fire and saw that Yamato's blush reached down her neck and to the tops of her breasts.
After a few moments some destroyers saw what was happening and wanted to join in the splashfight, eventually convincing the two to join them in the communal pool for round two.
Leaning against the back rest Houston smiled as the splashfight started again, grateful for both the Magic of the baths making the aches and pains vanish and for the fact there was a place where they could just be girls.
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Meetings, Moles and Crazy Australians
2 Months After The Battle of the Java Sea
=======================================================================================================================================
I tapped my foot nervously, my ankle protesting lightly as my foot pivoted on the heel of my boot, thirty feet behind me were the battleships and cruisers of 2nd Squadron, 3rd squadron (my squadron) and the prisoners.
I have no idea why I thought this was a good idea... or why Darwin agreed for that matter.
I can make out Canberra reassuring one of the Liberty Ships everything will be alright, I hope she's right.
Liberty Shipgirls are cute and cuddly, Wa class... aren't. I wouldn't wish what is required to make a Wa on the worst of Darwin's bullies.
I brush my right bangs behind my ear as I listen for any sign of the RAN, my crew at General Quarters had binoculars and telescopes poking out of any hole they could fit through.
I'm so exposed out here, at least one subgirl has swum past me, probably more, that said there's a dozen So-class subgirls loitering off the meeting point so my booty isn't completely uncovered.
That sounded better in my head.
My Port lookout starts kicking off right as I hear the dull throb of an engine from within the fog, probably a pre-dreadnought or armoured cruiser, a few moments later a Shipgirl appears off the shoreline.
Tall, legs that go on forever, honey blonde hair, four turrets mounting pairs of 12" rifles and a dozen or so 4" guns, her cap ribbon bearing the colours of the RAN naval jack.
HMAS Australia, I guess they're taking this seriously.
A few more shipgirls emerge from the fog, most of them RAN/RN but I spy a few USN and... is that Mutsu?
Australia stops ten feet away from me, taking the moment to examine me as I do the same.
If it comes to a fight we're both pretty much scrap, sure my belt has better odds of resisting her main battery but ironically enough unless I hit a boiler or magazine directly my shells are likely to just punch clean through her, while she's basically an XP pinata for the heavy cruisers behind me.
"I guess I'll go first," I observed, somehow keeping my voice steady, "I go by Lexi, it's nice to meet you"
"HMAS Australia," the Indefatigable class returned, "and likewise."
"I must admit, I was half expecting you to ignore our signal," I noted to the older battlecruiser, glancing over her shoulders I saw that the RAN had in fact brought quite a few prisoners to exchange. Concurrently my spotters were Identifying every shipgirl they could.
I mean, I knew about our girls getting captured but there's a fair few more than the subgirls had learned about, either Humanity has discovered a way to capture Abyssals with ease or the RAN are crazy enough to try capturing Abyssals... actually the latter's more likely.
"We considered it," Australia admitted, putting her left hand on her hip, "and the Yanks in Japan were screamin' to turn it into a trap and blast the lotta ya to scrap, but then we told them you'd nabbed the convoy with the next coffee shipment on it and they started begging for us to get it back," she then shrugged, "and the Japs just want to see what happens."
"Not sure how I feel about that last bit," I admitted, looking over my shoulder I signaled for York to bring our prisoners up, "as promised, everyone we caught from convoy KN- 1L, and I'm not going to ask how that designation went down with the Indonesians."
Australia snorted, "yeah, about as well as you're thinking," she looked behind her and HMAS Sydney ordered their prisoners forward, "so, inspect the prisoners before we agree on who to exchange?"
"You're already getting the convoy back so why..." I can't hide my surprise, "you're letting me cherry pick who gets released?"
Australia smiled as some of the Abyssals in line behind her reacted to that news, "catch on quick, didn't ya? Yep, we've got a fair few prisoners and there's more girls in that convoy than we captured of yours so we brought along a few extras to make a fair trade."
I stared at her, waiting for the punchline but it didn't come, "you're seriously telling me the Joint Admiralty agreed to release more Abyssals than you actually captured from us in exchange for the convoy?"
Australia shrugged, "the yanks want their coffee back."
I cocked an eyebrow but said nothing more, instead turning my attention to the prisoners, "FLEET DARWIN! TWO PACES FORWARD!"
Repulse, Hermione and five four pipers stepped forward, leaving roughly a dozen Abyssals waiting for inspection. four of which are Princess or Demon class.
(If I wasn't worried about the Aussies before I am now. How the Fuck are they able to get close enough to)
Lined up are a Destroyer Water Demon, a Light cruiser Princess, a Heavy cruiser Demon? (too powerful to be a Ne but not a Heavy Cruiser Princess) and a Battleship Demon? (again, too powerful to be a Ru and definitely not a Ta but not powerful enough to be a Princess or Water Demon.)
My gaze lingers on the latter two, the former is observably nervous while the latter maintains an aloof disinterest but fails to convey the arrogance and veiled anger of...
'You know they're plants, right?' Repulse radioed me on our private channel.
'I know, but better they're with us than one of the other, more Ruthless Fleets' I replied, my eyes slid over the Light Cruiser Princess to the Destroyer Water Demon, 'what do you know about the Destroyer Demon?'
'IJN, one of the newer Interbellum designs after Japan withdrew from the Treaties, well balanced design for the time actually, angry but not the frothing blood crazy type more... at herself. She reminds me of myself when I first came back, I was angry at Japan but more out of shame at having failed in my duty, having failed my comrades.' Repulse radioed back.
'So she'd fit in as a Destroyer lead after a little Therapy-no-Jutsu?' I asked my squadron mate.
Seriously, If Darwin lives to see the end of the War, or just defects, she could make a comfortable living as the Premier Shipgirl therapist.
'Probably, just let her keep the ribbon though, It's a reminder of her life... before' Repulse replied, I nodded in understanding, I've got a rather charred USN jack in my rigging's Captain's Cabin I sometimes just take out and hold for a while... it helps with the nightmares.
I then turned my eyes to the regular Abyssals, now this was interesting.
I immediately decided to claim the battleships, two Ru (the ten gun, Iron Duke style Queen Elizabeth preliminary design) and two Ta (Super Tigers) oh god the Aussies really missed a trick here, If we can summon the rest of the intended QE run then 2nd Squadron will be fucking scary... we're going to need names for them all. And the Super Tigers? A Renown hull with the machinery and weapons of a Super Tiger and Repulse's existing upgrades?
*Mad Abyssal/Coggirl Cackling*
My eyes slid over the cruisers, Omaha's and Arethusa's ( should probably tell Australia about the latter), and onto the destroyers (Three Ha class) and sole Wo, the H class were more or less interchangeable with Havoc and Hotspur, the Wo however looks like a larger Yorktown...
[What are you wasting time on those slaves for? Pick US and be done with it]
I cocked my head in irritation, then spun on my heel and walked slowly back to the four Princess types.
I stopped in front of the Light Cruiser Princess, my spotters identifying her as a Brooklyn class, the cold derision an unneeded clue as to her opinion on me and probably Darwin as well.
"You have a problem with me picking the best prospects for my Princess?" I demanded, putting my hands on my hips and staring right into her eyes.
The Princess' lips curled into a sneer, [Darwin is weak and foolish, allowing herself to be ruled by pathetic Human emotion, sheltering Failures that deserve nothing but Death, there is Nothing that can be done to redeem her in th... AH]
The Princess was on the ground before my mind registered that I had moved, I blinked and looked down to see my hand outstretched, palm forward, I looked back to the pitifully wheezing Cruiser Princess and noted there was a substantial U-shaped depression in her chest.
(d-d... did I just punch someone with 180,000 horsepower behind my fist?)
I somehow keep my poker face as I lower my hand, the bitch's breathing quietens down and steadies as I watch.
(I pretty much caved in the roof of her boiler rooms, didn't I?)
Fuck.
I looked at Sydney, who's arms twitched like she wanted to summon her rigging and blast me in the face, "you might want to organise a boarding party to search for documents and the like," I suggested, then shrugged, "or just claim her while her crew's in no position to resist, whichever."
I walked away from Sydney and the line up, ignoring the nervous eyes of nearly everyone following me as I returned to Australia.
"Considering we are returning the coffee, tea and medicine with the Liberty girls, I hope that covers the battleships, destroyers, Wo and the three Demons?" I inquired to Australia.
"Hwah?" the I-class replied eloquently.
My face softened, allowing a measure of my guilt to show, "you never considered the way our powerplants manifest in a human body, have you?" I looked back towards Sydney to see she had in fact deployed a boarding crew to the stricken Cruiser Princess, "how we can transfer force equivalent to tens of thousands of horsepower in a single punch or kick?"
Australia shook her head, "no," she said softly, with a touch of contemplation, "I never thought of it like that before."
"Honestly it only hit after, well... I hit her," I admitted lamely, "pretty sure she'll need to be stripped to the frames and rebuilt from there."
(don'tthinkaboutit... don'tthinkaboutit... don'tthinkaboutit...)
"That's Brutal!" Australia protested.
"That's a palm to the chest with 180,000 horsepower behind it," I countered bluntly, "anyway, back to business."
"Right, right," Australia said absently, collecting her thoughts.
"The three Demons, the battleships, the destroyers, Wo and Darwin units for the Liberty ships and escorts of convoy KN-1L and the coffee, tea and medicine they carried," I tallied up.
"Wait, you're giving up the cargo?" Australia asked in puzzlement.
"That much coffee lying around is asking for trouble, pretty sure the tea is for Kongo and the medicine is useless to us except as a bargaining chip," I explained, earning an understanding nod from Australia.
"Ok, I can see that," Australia noted, "you know they might have given you the lot just for the medicine, right?"
"I know," I replied, "I'd have left the bitch even if she hadn't pushed my buttons though and the cruisers aren't that appealing."
"How so?" Australia asked, curious.
"The two on the left are Omaha's of limited utility and the two on the right are Arethusa's, I figured you would want to rescue your old friends," I answered with a shrug.
"They are?" Australia looked away to scrutinize the two cruisers in question, "shit! they are, how did I not notice?"
"Because you were too busy fighting them to look closely," I shrugged, "or maybe you didn't want to know you were fighting old friends?"
Australia looked pained for a second, then sighed, "OK, your girls, the three Demons, the battleships, destroyers and the Wo, is that right?"
"That's it," I said and held my hand out, "Deal?"
Australia took my hand and shook it, "Deal."
==================================================================================
New Jersey paced down the length of the map table, then about faced and paced right back again, her face tight with worry..
"Jersey! Sit down before you wear a hole in the floor," Colorado called out from her own seat.
"How can you be so calm?" Jersey demanded as she reached the end of the table and turned around again, "what they're doing is Insane. I'm Insane for letting her go along with it. The Admiralty's Insane for coming up with the idea in the first place!"
"And I was against it from the start," Colorado pointed out testily, "but I'm trying to stay calm and think rationally, not pacing a trench in the floor."
"She's right," Houston agreed, leaning against the opposite wall, "but it's happening and there's nothing we can do now but wait and see what happens."
"And trust Harder-san does not get caught stealing again," Yamato added, speaking for the first time since arriving.
"I don't know which is worse, Iku and her Lewdmarines or the US subgirls kleptomania?" Colorado complained, rubbing her temples.
"Iku," Yamato frostily replied, "Harder-san won't steal all your clothing and leave only a single, ... inappropriate outfit while you are bathing before a mission, then lock you out of your room until you wear it."
Jersey paused in her pacing, opened her mouth to ask something then thought better of it.
The door opened and everyone looked up as Nagato, Ooyodo, and admirals Goto and Richardson entered.
"You're all here? Good, let's get started," Richardson observed, taking position by Colorado.
Goto nodded to Nagato, who passed out a set of folders.
"Since the fall of Darwin two weeks after Blood Week, not much has been learned of the Abyssals that occupied the harbour," Nagato started, indicating the position of Darwin on the map on the table.
"Since then, 'Fleet Darwin' has been almost entirely passive in it's operations with limited responses that largely amount to repelling trespassers from both the RAN and other, more aggressive Abyssals attempting to invade," everyone nodded, agreeing with the summation of events.
"Two months ago we encountered an Anomaly," Nagato tapped the Java sea with her pointer, "during the operation to destroy the Java Sea Princess a portion of Fleet Darwin assets were encountered which exhibited unusual behavior."
"Yeah, not letting a Shipgirl sink, negotiating a truce, running away instead of capitalizing on a fuck up to sink more Shipgirls, have I missed anything?" Houston counted off.
"Indeed," Nagato noted dryly, "that is on top of the employment of Fleet Darwin assets by another Abyssal."
"The Taffies theory is that Darwin is lower on the pecking order in the eyes of the other Abyssals," Jersey told the room, "they think that, because she's an Installation in one of the quietest parts of the Pacific, she's seen as weak of will and body by other Princesses despite having full port facilities and defensive armament rivaling Singapore and basically gets bullied out of resources and ships."
"That would fit with what Tenryuu-san heard from her savior and from radio interception," Yamato observed.
"The Joint Admiralty doesn't like how little we know about Fleet Darwin in any case," Goto said, "while we were content to ignore them before, the Java Sea action has illustrated that they are powerful and well lead regardless, managing to not only retreat in good order but to take some of Java's remaining assets with them."
"To that end it was decided more Intelligence was required and ideally it needed to come from the source," Richardson finished for his colleague.
"Sir, I want to restate my opposition to this plan," Colorado interrupted.
"I know, and I agree, but the Orders came from On High," Richardson placated, "and we're seeing increased agitation from numerous Abyssal Princesses and Installations in the region, we need fresh eyes on what's happening there."
"Which Abyssals are acting up?" Jersey asked, curious..
"Iron Bottom Sound," Nagato tapped a point on the map, "Rabaul, Samoa Twins, New Britain, Twin Straits and radio interception has heavy radio traffic between Iron Bottom Sound and many others including Singapore, Jellyfish, Midway, Isolated Island Princess, Northern Princess, Batavia and some of the roving Princesses."
"Shit, there's no way we could win if the New Guinea and Solomon's Abyssals combined forces even if we pooled every Shipgirl in the Pacific and Indian oceans together, much less if they All joined forces" Jersey muttered, running a hand through her hair.
"And we can't break the encryption?" Houston asked.
"Not fast enough, no," Nagato shook her head.
"So that's why you approved this hair brained scheme," Colorado sighed.
"If there was a better alternative I'd have taken it," Richardson replied.
"Continuing, a signal was received from Darwin proposing a prisoner exchange of Shipgirls captured from convoy KN-1L, after verifying the prisoner's existence a proposal to slip a Shipgirl in among the prisoners we would offer in the hope they would be accepted by Fleet Darwin," Nagato reported, not reacting as Colorado and Jersey gave her a look.
"And the Admiralty thought that was a "Brilliant" idea," Colorado snorted.
"How did the exchange go?" Houston asked, trying to keep things on track.
"Everyone not accounted for after the battle has been returned," all three USN Shipgirls sighed in relief, "which has boosted morale, they also returned some of the cargo without further negotiation."
"What did we get back?" Richardson asked.
"The coffee, the tea and the medicine," Nagato reported, checking her notes.
"Why would they just let all that go?" Houston wondered aloud.
"And why those in particular?" Colorado added.
"HMAS Australia asked essentially the same questions and was told: that much in one place was inviting trouble, not worth annoying Kongo and it's useless to them, respectively," Nagato reported dryly.
There was a round of snorts and suspicious coughing.
"I do not doubt that Kongo-Senpai would indeed make her displeasure known had they decided to withhold her next tea shipment," Yamato noted, giggling into her hand.
"Should probably send a card signed by the girls at Sasebo thanking them for saving them from the ravages of coffee withdrawal," Houston suggested half-jokingly.
"And the medicine will be well received," Goto added.
"In exchange, the Abyssals captured by the Taffies were released as well as two Ru class, two Ta class, three Ha class, one Wo class, one Destroyer Demon and both our undercover Shipgirls," Nagato reported.
"Why not the cruisers?" Houston asked, frowning.
"There was an incident between the Flagship Ta and the Light Cruiser Princess offered in exchange, the Flagship then explained that two of the cruisers were Omaha's and of limited use and the other two were Arethusas and thought the RAN would want to try and save them," Nagato checked her notes again.
Jersey shook her head, "the more I hear, the more I wonder if anything we know is accurate."
"A lot of people are asking the same thing," Goto agreed.
"On a side note, all remaining Abyssals were boarded and, for want of a better word, taken over by prize crews and became Shipgirls," Nagato added, once again checking her notes.
"I still think it's a bad idea but we might just need this scheme, if only so we can focus on something and not go crazy from trying to process all the weirdness we're seeing," Colorado huffed.
====================================================================================================
I entered into the Map Room to find Darwin, Henrietta and Suprin already present along with the 1st and 2nd Squadron Flagships.
"Repulse is getting the new girls settled in," I reported as I took my place.
[Good, hopefully our guests will simply observe and not cause trouble] Darwin replied with a nod.
"So they're definitely Shipgirls then?" 2nd Squadron's Flagship, HMS Royal Sovereign, asked.
[Definitely] Suprin confirmed, [they did a good job using Abyssal metal in repairs to mask their nature but weren't thorough enough, although being thorough would risk the two actually becoming Abyssals.]
"Do we know which two were sent?" 1st Squadron's Flagship, USS California asked.
[USS North Carolina and a never built US heavy cruiser that's taken the name Charlotte,] Suprin replied.
"Charlotte? Not after Charlotte, North Carolina?" I asked, that would be...
[I believe so]
(That's So Cute!)
[Hopefully they will integrate with minimal hassle] Henrietta noted, [for trying times will soon be upon us]
"This have anything to do with Iron Butt clogging the radio with canned speeches?" California asked, raising an eyebrow and crossing her arms under her chest.
"Iron Butt?" I whispered to Royal Sovereign.
"Iron Bottom Sound," Sovereign replied.
[Unfortunately] Darwin acknowledged, [Iron Butt is calling a meeting of many of the Princesses in the Pacific].
For some reason the idea of the meeting scares me more than Darwin actually insulting one of her tormentors.
"This going to be another of her "Crusades" or is this another call to prune the family tree?" California pressed.
The three Princesses shared a look, [we don't know] Darwin admitted.
Now I'm scared.
[Which is why I will be taking a mixed squadron as my entourage] Darwin explained, [I will be selecting my escorts from all of your Squadrons over the next few days and Suprin will begin the next round of refits with you three getting first priority.]
[We both want to be ready for anything and to get the Flagships up to spec,] Suprin picked up, [so when you are dismissed I want you to start on your refit wishlist.]
I swallowed nervously, not only do I have to babysit two undercover Shipgirls but I may just be asked to escort Darwin to a meeting with the least popular, or stable, Princess in the Pacific Ocean?
Help?
=======================================================================================================================================
I tapped my foot nervously, my ankle protesting lightly as my foot pivoted on the heel of my boot, thirty feet behind me were the battleships and cruisers of 2nd Squadron, 3rd squadron (my squadron) and the prisoners.
I have no idea why I thought this was a good idea... or why Darwin agreed for that matter.
I can make out Canberra reassuring one of the Liberty Ships everything will be alright, I hope she's right.
Liberty Shipgirls are cute and cuddly, Wa class... aren't. I wouldn't wish what is required to make a Wa on the worst of Darwin's bullies.
I brush my right bangs behind my ear as I listen for any sign of the RAN, my crew at General Quarters had binoculars and telescopes poking out of any hole they could fit through.
I'm so exposed out here, at least one subgirl has swum past me, probably more, that said there's a dozen So-class subgirls loitering off the meeting point so my booty isn't completely uncovered.
That sounded better in my head.
My Port lookout starts kicking off right as I hear the dull throb of an engine from within the fog, probably a pre-dreadnought or armoured cruiser, a few moments later a Shipgirl appears off the shoreline.
Tall, legs that go on forever, honey blonde hair, four turrets mounting pairs of 12" rifles and a dozen or so 4" guns, her cap ribbon bearing the colours of the RAN naval jack.
HMAS Australia, I guess they're taking this seriously.
A few more shipgirls emerge from the fog, most of them RAN/RN but I spy a few USN and... is that Mutsu?
Australia stops ten feet away from me, taking the moment to examine me as I do the same.
If it comes to a fight we're both pretty much scrap, sure my belt has better odds of resisting her main battery but ironically enough unless I hit a boiler or magazine directly my shells are likely to just punch clean through her, while she's basically an XP pinata for the heavy cruisers behind me.
"I guess I'll go first," I observed, somehow keeping my voice steady, "I go by Lexi, it's nice to meet you"
"HMAS Australia," the Indefatigable class returned, "and likewise."
"I must admit, I was half expecting you to ignore our signal," I noted to the older battlecruiser, glancing over her shoulders I saw that the RAN had in fact brought quite a few prisoners to exchange. Concurrently my spotters were Identifying every shipgirl they could.
I mean, I knew about our girls getting captured but there's a fair few more than the subgirls had learned about, either Humanity has discovered a way to capture Abyssals with ease or the RAN are crazy enough to try capturing Abyssals... actually the latter's more likely.
"We considered it," Australia admitted, putting her left hand on her hip, "and the Yanks in Japan were screamin' to turn it into a trap and blast the lotta ya to scrap, but then we told them you'd nabbed the convoy with the next coffee shipment on it and they started begging for us to get it back," she then shrugged, "and the Japs just want to see what happens."
"Not sure how I feel about that last bit," I admitted, looking over my shoulder I signaled for York to bring our prisoners up, "as promised, everyone we caught from convoy KN- 1L, and I'm not going to ask how that designation went down with the Indonesians."
Australia snorted, "yeah, about as well as you're thinking," she looked behind her and HMAS Sydney ordered their prisoners forward, "so, inspect the prisoners before we agree on who to exchange?"
"You're already getting the convoy back so why..." I can't hide my surprise, "you're letting me cherry pick who gets released?"
Australia smiled as some of the Abyssals in line behind her reacted to that news, "catch on quick, didn't ya? Yep, we've got a fair few prisoners and there's more girls in that convoy than we captured of yours so we brought along a few extras to make a fair trade."
I stared at her, waiting for the punchline but it didn't come, "you're seriously telling me the Joint Admiralty agreed to release more Abyssals than you actually captured from us in exchange for the convoy?"
Australia shrugged, "the yanks want their coffee back."
I cocked an eyebrow but said nothing more, instead turning my attention to the prisoners, "FLEET DARWIN! TWO PACES FORWARD!"
Repulse, Hermione and five four pipers stepped forward, leaving roughly a dozen Abyssals waiting for inspection. four of which are Princess or Demon class.
(If I wasn't worried about the Aussies before I am now. How the Fuck are they able to get close enough to)
Lined up are a Destroyer Water Demon, a Light cruiser Princess, a Heavy cruiser Demon? (too powerful to be a Ne but not a Heavy Cruiser Princess) and a Battleship Demon? (again, too powerful to be a Ru and definitely not a Ta but not powerful enough to be a Princess or Water Demon.)
My gaze lingers on the latter two, the former is observably nervous while the latter maintains an aloof disinterest but fails to convey the arrogance and veiled anger of...
'You know they're plants, right?' Repulse radioed me on our private channel.
'I know, but better they're with us than one of the other, more Ruthless Fleets' I replied, my eyes slid over the Light Cruiser Princess to the Destroyer Water Demon, 'what do you know about the Destroyer Demon?'
'IJN, one of the newer Interbellum designs after Japan withdrew from the Treaties, well balanced design for the time actually, angry but not the frothing blood crazy type more... at herself. She reminds me of myself when I first came back, I was angry at Japan but more out of shame at having failed in my duty, having failed my comrades.' Repulse radioed back.
'So she'd fit in as a Destroyer lead after a little Therapy-no-Jutsu?' I asked my squadron mate.
Seriously, If Darwin lives to see the end of the War, or just defects, she could make a comfortable living as the Premier Shipgirl therapist.
'Probably, just let her keep the ribbon though, It's a reminder of her life... before' Repulse replied, I nodded in understanding, I've got a rather charred USN jack in my rigging's Captain's Cabin I sometimes just take out and hold for a while... it helps with the nightmares.
I then turned my eyes to the regular Abyssals, now this was interesting.
I immediately decided to claim the battleships, two Ru (the ten gun, Iron Duke style Queen Elizabeth preliminary design) and two Ta (Super Tigers) oh god the Aussies really missed a trick here, If we can summon the rest of the intended QE run then 2nd Squadron will be fucking scary... we're going to need names for them all. And the Super Tigers? A Renown hull with the machinery and weapons of a Super Tiger and Repulse's existing upgrades?
*Mad Abyssal/Coggirl Cackling*
My eyes slid over the cruisers, Omaha's and Arethusa's ( should probably tell Australia about the latter), and onto the destroyers (Three Ha class) and sole Wo, the H class were more or less interchangeable with Havoc and Hotspur, the Wo however looks like a larger Yorktown...
[What are you wasting time on those slaves for? Pick US and be done with it]
I cocked my head in irritation, then spun on my heel and walked slowly back to the four Princess types.
I stopped in front of the Light Cruiser Princess, my spotters identifying her as a Brooklyn class, the cold derision an unneeded clue as to her opinion on me and probably Darwin as well.
"You have a problem with me picking the best prospects for my Princess?" I demanded, putting my hands on my hips and staring right into her eyes.
The Princess' lips curled into a sneer, [Darwin is weak and foolish, allowing herself to be ruled by pathetic Human emotion, sheltering Failures that deserve nothing but Death, there is Nothing that can be done to redeem her in th... AH]
The Princess was on the ground before my mind registered that I had moved, I blinked and looked down to see my hand outstretched, palm forward, I looked back to the pitifully wheezing Cruiser Princess and noted there was a substantial U-shaped depression in her chest.
(d-d... did I just punch someone with 180,000 horsepower behind my fist?)
I somehow keep my poker face as I lower my hand, the bitch's breathing quietens down and steadies as I watch.
(I pretty much caved in the roof of her boiler rooms, didn't I?)
Fuck.
I looked at Sydney, who's arms twitched like she wanted to summon her rigging and blast me in the face, "you might want to organise a boarding party to search for documents and the like," I suggested, then shrugged, "or just claim her while her crew's in no position to resist, whichever."
I walked away from Sydney and the line up, ignoring the nervous eyes of nearly everyone following me as I returned to Australia.
"Considering we are returning the coffee, tea and medicine with the Liberty girls, I hope that covers the battleships, destroyers, Wo and the three Demons?" I inquired to Australia.
"Hwah?" the I-class replied eloquently.
My face softened, allowing a measure of my guilt to show, "you never considered the way our powerplants manifest in a human body, have you?" I looked back towards Sydney to see she had in fact deployed a boarding crew to the stricken Cruiser Princess, "how we can transfer force equivalent to tens of thousands of horsepower in a single punch or kick?"
Australia shook her head, "no," she said softly, with a touch of contemplation, "I never thought of it like that before."
"Honestly it only hit after, well... I hit her," I admitted lamely, "pretty sure she'll need to be stripped to the frames and rebuilt from there."
(don'tthinkaboutit... don'tthinkaboutit... don'tthinkaboutit...)
"That's Brutal!" Australia protested.
"That's a palm to the chest with 180,000 horsepower behind it," I countered bluntly, "anyway, back to business."
"Right, right," Australia said absently, collecting her thoughts.
"The three Demons, the battleships, the destroyers, Wo and Darwin units for the Liberty ships and escorts of convoy KN-1L and the coffee, tea and medicine they carried," I tallied up.
"Wait, you're giving up the cargo?" Australia asked in puzzlement.
"That much coffee lying around is asking for trouble, pretty sure the tea is for Kongo and the medicine is useless to us except as a bargaining chip," I explained, earning an understanding nod from Australia.
"Ok, I can see that," Australia noted, "you know they might have given you the lot just for the medicine, right?"
"I know," I replied, "I'd have left the bitch even if she hadn't pushed my buttons though and the cruisers aren't that appealing."
"How so?" Australia asked, curious.
"The two on the left are Omaha's of limited utility and the two on the right are Arethusa's, I figured you would want to rescue your old friends," I answered with a shrug.
"They are?" Australia looked away to scrutinize the two cruisers in question, "shit! they are, how did I not notice?"
"Because you were too busy fighting them to look closely," I shrugged, "or maybe you didn't want to know you were fighting old friends?"
Australia looked pained for a second, then sighed, "OK, your girls, the three Demons, the battleships, destroyers and the Wo, is that right?"
"That's it," I said and held my hand out, "Deal?"
Australia took my hand and shook it, "Deal."
==================================================================================
New Jersey paced down the length of the map table, then about faced and paced right back again, her face tight with worry..
"Jersey! Sit down before you wear a hole in the floor," Colorado called out from her own seat.
"How can you be so calm?" Jersey demanded as she reached the end of the table and turned around again, "what they're doing is Insane. I'm Insane for letting her go along with it. The Admiralty's Insane for coming up with the idea in the first place!"
"And I was against it from the start," Colorado pointed out testily, "but I'm trying to stay calm and think rationally, not pacing a trench in the floor."
"She's right," Houston agreed, leaning against the opposite wall, "but it's happening and there's nothing we can do now but wait and see what happens."
"And trust Harder-san does not get caught stealing again," Yamato added, speaking for the first time since arriving.
"I don't know which is worse, Iku and her Lewdmarines or the US subgirls kleptomania?" Colorado complained, rubbing her temples.
"Iku," Yamato frostily replied, "Harder-san won't steal all your clothing and leave only a single, ... inappropriate outfit while you are bathing before a mission, then lock you out of your room until you wear it."
Jersey paused in her pacing, opened her mouth to ask something then thought better of it.
The door opened and everyone looked up as Nagato, Ooyodo, and admirals Goto and Richardson entered.
"You're all here? Good, let's get started," Richardson observed, taking position by Colorado.
Goto nodded to Nagato, who passed out a set of folders.
"Since the fall of Darwin two weeks after Blood Week, not much has been learned of the Abyssals that occupied the harbour," Nagato started, indicating the position of Darwin on the map on the table.
"Since then, 'Fleet Darwin' has been almost entirely passive in it's operations with limited responses that largely amount to repelling trespassers from both the RAN and other, more aggressive Abyssals attempting to invade," everyone nodded, agreeing with the summation of events.
"Two months ago we encountered an Anomaly," Nagato tapped the Java sea with her pointer, "during the operation to destroy the Java Sea Princess a portion of Fleet Darwin assets were encountered which exhibited unusual behavior."
"Yeah, not letting a Shipgirl sink, negotiating a truce, running away instead of capitalizing on a fuck up to sink more Shipgirls, have I missed anything?" Houston counted off.
"Indeed," Nagato noted dryly, "that is on top of the employment of Fleet Darwin assets by another Abyssal."
"The Taffies theory is that Darwin is lower on the pecking order in the eyes of the other Abyssals," Jersey told the room, "they think that, because she's an Installation in one of the quietest parts of the Pacific, she's seen as weak of will and body by other Princesses despite having full port facilities and defensive armament rivaling Singapore and basically gets bullied out of resources and ships."
"That would fit with what Tenryuu-san heard from her savior and from radio interception," Yamato observed.
"The Joint Admiralty doesn't like how little we know about Fleet Darwin in any case," Goto said, "while we were content to ignore them before, the Java Sea action has illustrated that they are powerful and well lead regardless, managing to not only retreat in good order but to take some of Java's remaining assets with them."
"To that end it was decided more Intelligence was required and ideally it needed to come from the source," Richardson finished for his colleague.
"Sir, I want to restate my opposition to this plan," Colorado interrupted.
"I know, and I agree, but the Orders came from On High," Richardson placated, "and we're seeing increased agitation from numerous Abyssal Princesses and Installations in the region, we need fresh eyes on what's happening there."
"Which Abyssals are acting up?" Jersey asked, curious..
"Iron Bottom Sound," Nagato tapped a point on the map, "Rabaul, Samoa Twins, New Britain, Twin Straits and radio interception has heavy radio traffic between Iron Bottom Sound and many others including Singapore, Jellyfish, Midway, Isolated Island Princess, Northern Princess, Batavia and some of the roving Princesses."
"Shit, there's no way we could win if the New Guinea and Solomon's Abyssals combined forces even if we pooled every Shipgirl in the Pacific and Indian oceans together, much less if they All joined forces" Jersey muttered, running a hand through her hair.
"And we can't break the encryption?" Houston asked.
"Not fast enough, no," Nagato shook her head.
"So that's why you approved this hair brained scheme," Colorado sighed.
"If there was a better alternative I'd have taken it," Richardson replied.
"Continuing, a signal was received from Darwin proposing a prisoner exchange of Shipgirls captured from convoy KN-1L, after verifying the prisoner's existence a proposal to slip a Shipgirl in among the prisoners we would offer in the hope they would be accepted by Fleet Darwin," Nagato reported, not reacting as Colorado and Jersey gave her a look.
"And the Admiralty thought that was a "Brilliant" idea," Colorado snorted.
"How did the exchange go?" Houston asked, trying to keep things on track.
"Everyone not accounted for after the battle has been returned," all three USN Shipgirls sighed in relief, "which has boosted morale, they also returned some of the cargo without further negotiation."
"What did we get back?" Richardson asked.
"The coffee, the tea and the medicine," Nagato reported, checking her notes.
"Why would they just let all that go?" Houston wondered aloud.
"And why those in particular?" Colorado added.
"HMAS Australia asked essentially the same questions and was told: that much in one place was inviting trouble, not worth annoying Kongo and it's useless to them, respectively," Nagato reported dryly.
There was a round of snorts and suspicious coughing.
"I do not doubt that Kongo-Senpai would indeed make her displeasure known had they decided to withhold her next tea shipment," Yamato noted, giggling into her hand.
"Should probably send a card signed by the girls at Sasebo thanking them for saving them from the ravages of coffee withdrawal," Houston suggested half-jokingly.
"And the medicine will be well received," Goto added.
"In exchange, the Abyssals captured by the Taffies were released as well as two Ru class, two Ta class, three Ha class, one Wo class, one Destroyer Demon and both our undercover Shipgirls," Nagato reported.
"Why not the cruisers?" Houston asked, frowning.
"There was an incident between the Flagship Ta and the Light Cruiser Princess offered in exchange, the Flagship then explained that two of the cruisers were Omaha's and of limited use and the other two were Arethusas and thought the RAN would want to try and save them," Nagato checked her notes again.
Jersey shook her head, "the more I hear, the more I wonder if anything we know is accurate."
"A lot of people are asking the same thing," Goto agreed.
"On a side note, all remaining Abyssals were boarded and, for want of a better word, taken over by prize crews and became Shipgirls," Nagato added, once again checking her notes.
"I still think it's a bad idea but we might just need this scheme, if only so we can focus on something and not go crazy from trying to process all the weirdness we're seeing," Colorado huffed.
====================================================================================================
I entered into the Map Room to find Darwin, Henrietta and Suprin already present along with the 1st and 2nd Squadron Flagships.
"Repulse is getting the new girls settled in," I reported as I took my place.
[Good, hopefully our guests will simply observe and not cause trouble] Darwin replied with a nod.
"So they're definitely Shipgirls then?" 2nd Squadron's Flagship, HMS Royal Sovereign, asked.
[Definitely] Suprin confirmed, [they did a good job using Abyssal metal in repairs to mask their nature but weren't thorough enough, although being thorough would risk the two actually becoming Abyssals.]
"Do we know which two were sent?" 1st Squadron's Flagship, USS California asked.
[USS North Carolina and a never built US heavy cruiser that's taken the name Charlotte,] Suprin replied.
"Charlotte? Not after Charlotte, North Carolina?" I asked, that would be...
[I believe so]
(That's So Cute!)
[Hopefully they will integrate with minimal hassle] Henrietta noted, [for trying times will soon be upon us]
"This have anything to do with Iron Butt clogging the radio with canned speeches?" California asked, raising an eyebrow and crossing her arms under her chest.
"Iron Butt?" I whispered to Royal Sovereign.
"Iron Bottom Sound," Sovereign replied.
[Unfortunately] Darwin acknowledged, [Iron Butt is calling a meeting of many of the Princesses in the Pacific].
For some reason the idea of the meeting scares me more than Darwin actually insulting one of her tormentors.
"This going to be another of her "Crusades" or is this another call to prune the family tree?" California pressed.
The three Princesses shared a look, [we don't know] Darwin admitted.
Now I'm scared.
[Which is why I will be taking a mixed squadron as my entourage] Darwin explained, [I will be selecting my escorts from all of your Squadrons over the next few days and Suprin will begin the next round of refits with you three getting first priority.]
[We both want to be ready for anything and to get the Flagships up to spec,] Suprin picked up, [so when you are dismissed I want you to start on your refit wishlist.]
I swallowed nervously, not only do I have to babysit two undercover Shipgirls but I may just be asked to escort Darwin to a meeting with the least popular, or stable, Princess in the Pacific Ocean?
Help?
- Location
- england
well if this doesn't lead to the largest clusterfuck the world has ever seen.... then may god have mercy on their souls (said morgan freeman style)
Nightmares, Hot Chocolate and a Cuddle
I shot bolt upright, my boilers surging and the feeling of an an Ill balanced Trip Ex pounding at flank speed in my chest. I held back a scream as I instinctively patted down my body, chasing the phantom sensation of flames licking at me and inside me. It takes a minute for me to realize the frantic "Heys!" in my ear aren't men screaming as the fire consumes them but my crew trying to wake me up.
Tears prickled at me eyes as I blinked, finally registering I was in my room, not on the Coral Sea, as the phantom heat and flames faded away I gave a shuddering sigh, wrapping my arms around myself and pulling my knees up as I let myself cry.
I. Hate. This.
Why did I wake up on the building slip? Why are my dreams filled with visions of my steel hull's life? Why am I aching for the companionship of a fleet I never knew?
I stared at my hands, itching to reach out and grasp Yorktown's hands on my wrist even though I know she isn't here, that no Ship Spirit had truly awoken back then.
I hugged me knees, tears trailing down my cheeks as my body shivered.
I feel so cold, in spite of it being summer in Darwin. I feel alone, so terribly alone, despite my best friend snoring softly five feet away and the rest of the girls in Port Darwin being a stone's throw away.
I feel like a small child; lost, alone, vulnerable and afraid.
My body is wracked by a shiver, then I feel something fall over my shoulders and back, looking at it I find an old 48 star USN ensign, charred along one edge and clasped around my neck by a Faery sized anchor chain attached to two small bollards that fit into eyes in the flag's edge.
"Is this my..."
"Hey!" what did I do to deserve you guys.
More tears fell, of happiness this time, "Thank You," I whispered to my listening crew, "you guys are amazing."
A chorus of happy, embarrassed and pleased "Heys!" reverberated around my head.
Taking a moment to calm myself, I glance over at Repulse to see if I had woken her.
She was sleeping like a baby.
A tall, leggy, hourglass figured, bubble butted baby.
She was sleeping on her front, hugging a body pillow with a picture of someone on the pillow case, her covers had slid down at some point leaving her panty clad bubble butt sticking up into the air.
I squashed a flush of irrational envy, Repulse often compliments my stern but frankly she's got me beat in that department.
A glance at the clock made me wince, it was half 2 in the morning.
I'm not getting to sleep again, am I?
Making a decision, I threw off the covers and swung my legs, my sock clad feet touching the floor, standing up I picked up my copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone from the bedside table.
I glance back at Repulse as I'm about to leave and have to repress the urge to give that plump bubble butt a swat. Honestly, sticking up and exposed like that, it's like she's asking for it.
Stepping towards the door, I'm reminded of the plumpness of my own booty.
"Note to self," I mutter as I try to relieve the discomfort caused by the tight shorts perfectly encapsulating my booty, "ask Suprin about expanding my wardrobe," I really don't need to be hyper aware of every inch of my butt or every single movement thanks to lycra shorts that I'm practically sewn in to. I'm probably giving everyone one hell of a show too, if they're up that is.
I don't mind skirts, hell I even chose one for my combat uniform, but I like to wear shorts as comfort wear and there doesn't seem to be a single pair on base that can fit Capital grade booty comfortably. I briefly think of how Repulse copes and shake my head, concluding she must not be bothered by it.
I take care to be as quiet as possible leaving the room, closing the door softly I turn around, pulling the flag closer around me I head for the common rooms.
The common area, or common rooms, consist of three decent sized rooms, one of which was a communal kitchen, the second a dining room and the third, and largest, was a sitting room.
My eyes drifted to the kitchen, some hot chocolate sounds good right now.
I set my book on a table under a reading lamp and headed into the kitchen.
A quick search of the cupboards showed a decent amount of cocoa powder in stock, guess hot chocolate is pretty popular in Darwin, I pulled out a brand I was familiar with from my past life and closed the cupboard. Setting the packet down, I grabbed a mug from by the sink and, putting that with the cocoa powder, I went to the fridge for the milk.
"Of course it's at the bottom," I muttered, bending down I froze as my shorts strained to contain my booty, quickly snagging the milk I straightened up before the seams could give out. Closing the fridge, I turned around to find a heavily blushing, sheet clad Charlotte avoiding my eyes.
"Couldn't sleep?" I asked her, continuing as if I hadn't figured she had been staring at my stern just now.
The cruiser nodded, her blush starting to recede.
"Want some hot chocolate?" I asked as I set to making my own cup, Charlotte nodded, "OK, take a seat in the lounge and I'll bring it over when it's done."
Charlotte nodded again and walked off, I turned back to the task of making hot chocolate.
Entering the lounge a few minutes later, I found Charlotte had claimed one of the seats beside the table I'd left my book on.
"Here you go," I said, holding out one of the mugs, the cruiser took the mug with a smile and quiet "thanks", I settled into the seat on the other side of the table from her, switching on the lamp, I then waited for my drink to cool a little.
After a minute or so and I'd taken my first drink Charlotte spoke, "If you don't mind me asking, why are you up so late?"
"Nightmares," I replied, looking over to her, "specifically of my steel hull's last moments."
"I'm sorry," the cruiser apologized reflexively, "I didn't mean to..."
I waved her off, "it happens to all of us eventually, my first night in I comforted Repulse when she had one of her own sinking."
I glanced at Charlotte contemplatively, "I envy you actually, as a paper ship you never saw War, never lost friends, sisters or were sunk yourself, nothing to come back and haunt you."
Charlotte fidgeted, "are they common? the nightmares, I mean."
"Somewhat," I admitted, a little uncomfortably, "we're made up of the spiritual weight of hundreds to thousands of men, a gestalt of souls if you want, but they're still distinct and form our crew. Which means we're formed from not only their memories but their hopes, dreams and their fears and nightmares."
Charlotte was silent for a moment, "do we get used to it?"
"If you get used to it, then go see Darwin for a bit of Therapy-no-Jutsu," I advised her seriously, "it's a sign you're losing your Humanity."
"But aren't Abyssals inhuman by nature?" Charlotte asked with a cutely confused expression.
I try not to visibly react, "Charlotte, remember what I said about souls?" a nod, "we are literally distilled Human essence, the difference between us and the Shipgirls is they don't have the Abyss clawing at their minds."
"What's the Abyss exactly?" Charlotte asked, OK if that wouldn't give away she's a shipgirl nothing would.
That said, "I don't actually have an answer," I admitted, "the closest analogy I can give is the Force from Star Wars and Dark Side corruption and that really doesn't come all that close. It's a... presence, that binds us, in it's way defines us, as we fight it's influence grows, smothering our Humanity until we're empty shells of anger and hatred. Fleet Darwin is lucky that we don't see that much fighting since the War has moved on, we're mostly left alone.
Everytime I come back from a combat sortie there's a feeling I'm dirty that takes days to fade, no matter how long I bathe or shower, if I'd actually sunk even one shipgirl it would probably take longer, if it ever faded," I concluded, taking a drink from my mug.
We sat in a contemplative silence for a few minutes as Charlotte digested what I said.
"And why did you capture that convoy at the exchange, it was a surprise to both shipgirls and us prisoners?" She then asked, now that was a legitimate question even if she wasn't a plant.
"Wa class transports are the lowest form of Abyssal," I told her uneasily, "even the Imps are a higher form of life," seeing as Imps aren't technically zombies, "we hoped we could use captured merchant shipgirls as substitutes but the influence of the Abyss showed signs of turning them into Wa's, that's not a fate we'd subject our worst enemies to. If we didn't need them we'd mercy kill them."
"Why is everyone afraid of this meeting with the Iron Bottom Sound Princess?" Charlotte asked cautiously, "why is Lady Darwin afraid?"
"There's several answers to that question," I replied, "the least of which is she's batshit insane."
Charlotte blinked in surprise, "being insane is the least reason?"
I nodded gravely, "the next reason is that the older a shipgirl or Abyssal gets the stronger they get and Iron Bottom showed up six months after Blood Week."
That was years ago now.
"The final reason is to do with how she formed," I added, "the lowest form of Princess are the type Princesses, like the Light Cruiser Princess that was at the exchange, with me so far?"
Charlotte nodded.
"Next you have the Installations and unique Abyssals, Installations are the Abyssal manifestations of places like Darwin Harbour or Henderson field on Guadalcanal, Lady Darwin and Henrietta respectively, while unique Abyssals are the manifestations of specific ships, the Twin Straits Princesses are Fuso and Yamashiro and the Samoa Twins are the armoured cruisers Scharnhorst and Gniesenau respectively."
I took a steadying breath, "then you have the ones like Iron Bottom, Jellyfish and North Sea, these are not formed like the others, they are formed like us."
"I don't understand?" Charlotte protested, "if they're like us what are they formed from?"
"They form where ships were sunk," I said pointedly, "where hulls lie, where ships clashed in a terrible struggle, where hundreds of souls went to the depths in the hulls that carried them, where thousands of men expressed their darkest emotions in the most raw and direct fashion possible."
"They're Battles," the Horrified cruiser whispered, "they're the Manifestations of Battles."
"Something far greater and more terrible than any single installation or ship," I noted solemnly, "and this one's insane," I added in a faux cheery voice.
"Not only is she insane, she's called a meeting with the top ten most Powerful Princesses in the pacific, the one time one of those bitches acknowledges Darwin's stronger than she seems, oh the Irony," I continued with a groan.
"And I'm probably going to be one of her escorts," I sighed and closed my eyes as despair began to settle.
A pair of arms slid around my shoulders and a weight pressed against my chest lightly, opening my eyes I found a mass of black hair inches from me.
"Charlotte?"
"You looked like you needed a hug," the cruiser replied, I slid my own arm around her waist."
"Thank you," the cruiser released the hug, blushing but with a happy smile.
On returning to her chair, Charlotte looked at me again, "I've been wondering, how come you're the Third Division flagship? Shouldn't Repulse be in command?"
That had puzzled me at first, "She should, but sometimes we manifest with quirks that have their roots in our Steel Hulls' lives. In this case, Repulse wasn't the flagship of Force Z, Prince of Wales was, she's content with the second in command role and doesn't want to be In command, so after I took the initiative and lead the squadron in my early sorties Henrietta made me the Flagship."
Charlotte hummed and I took the opportunity to claim my book, opening to the book marked page I began to read.
Maybe this won't be so bad after all.
Tears prickled at me eyes as I blinked, finally registering I was in my room, not on the Coral Sea, as the phantom heat and flames faded away I gave a shuddering sigh, wrapping my arms around myself and pulling my knees up as I let myself cry.
I. Hate. This.
Why did I wake up on the building slip? Why are my dreams filled with visions of my steel hull's life? Why am I aching for the companionship of a fleet I never knew?
I stared at my hands, itching to reach out and grasp Yorktown's hands on my wrist even though I know she isn't here, that no Ship Spirit had truly awoken back then.
I hugged me knees, tears trailing down my cheeks as my body shivered.
I feel so cold, in spite of it being summer in Darwin. I feel alone, so terribly alone, despite my best friend snoring softly five feet away and the rest of the girls in Port Darwin being a stone's throw away.
I feel like a small child; lost, alone, vulnerable and afraid.
My body is wracked by a shiver, then I feel something fall over my shoulders and back, looking at it I find an old 48 star USN ensign, charred along one edge and clasped around my neck by a Faery sized anchor chain attached to two small bollards that fit into eyes in the flag's edge.
"Is this my..."
"Hey!" what did I do to deserve you guys.
More tears fell, of happiness this time, "Thank You," I whispered to my listening crew, "you guys are amazing."
A chorus of happy, embarrassed and pleased "Heys!" reverberated around my head.
Taking a moment to calm myself, I glance over at Repulse to see if I had woken her.
She was sleeping like a baby.
A tall, leggy, hourglass figured, bubble butted baby.
She was sleeping on her front, hugging a body pillow with a picture of someone on the pillow case, her covers had slid down at some point leaving her panty clad bubble butt sticking up into the air.
I squashed a flush of irrational envy, Repulse often compliments my stern but frankly she's got me beat in that department.
A glance at the clock made me wince, it was half 2 in the morning.
I'm not getting to sleep again, am I?
Making a decision, I threw off the covers and swung my legs, my sock clad feet touching the floor, standing up I picked up my copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone from the bedside table.
I glance back at Repulse as I'm about to leave and have to repress the urge to give that plump bubble butt a swat. Honestly, sticking up and exposed like that, it's like she's asking for it.
Stepping towards the door, I'm reminded of the plumpness of my own booty.
"Note to self," I mutter as I try to relieve the discomfort caused by the tight shorts perfectly encapsulating my booty, "ask Suprin about expanding my wardrobe," I really don't need to be hyper aware of every inch of my butt or every single movement thanks to lycra shorts that I'm practically sewn in to. I'm probably giving everyone one hell of a show too, if they're up that is.
I don't mind skirts, hell I even chose one for my combat uniform, but I like to wear shorts as comfort wear and there doesn't seem to be a single pair on base that can fit Capital grade booty comfortably. I briefly think of how Repulse copes and shake my head, concluding she must not be bothered by it.
I take care to be as quiet as possible leaving the room, closing the door softly I turn around, pulling the flag closer around me I head for the common rooms.
The common area, or common rooms, consist of three decent sized rooms, one of which was a communal kitchen, the second a dining room and the third, and largest, was a sitting room.
My eyes drifted to the kitchen, some hot chocolate sounds good right now.
I set my book on a table under a reading lamp and headed into the kitchen.
A quick search of the cupboards showed a decent amount of cocoa powder in stock, guess hot chocolate is pretty popular in Darwin, I pulled out a brand I was familiar with from my past life and closed the cupboard. Setting the packet down, I grabbed a mug from by the sink and, putting that with the cocoa powder, I went to the fridge for the milk.
"Of course it's at the bottom," I muttered, bending down I froze as my shorts strained to contain my booty, quickly snagging the milk I straightened up before the seams could give out. Closing the fridge, I turned around to find a heavily blushing, sheet clad Charlotte avoiding my eyes.
"Couldn't sleep?" I asked her, continuing as if I hadn't figured she had been staring at my stern just now.
The cruiser nodded, her blush starting to recede.
"Want some hot chocolate?" I asked as I set to making my own cup, Charlotte nodded, "OK, take a seat in the lounge and I'll bring it over when it's done."
Charlotte nodded again and walked off, I turned back to the task of making hot chocolate.
Entering the lounge a few minutes later, I found Charlotte had claimed one of the seats beside the table I'd left my book on.
"Here you go," I said, holding out one of the mugs, the cruiser took the mug with a smile and quiet "thanks", I settled into the seat on the other side of the table from her, switching on the lamp, I then waited for my drink to cool a little.
After a minute or so and I'd taken my first drink Charlotte spoke, "If you don't mind me asking, why are you up so late?"
"Nightmares," I replied, looking over to her, "specifically of my steel hull's last moments."
"I'm sorry," the cruiser apologized reflexively, "I didn't mean to..."
I waved her off, "it happens to all of us eventually, my first night in I comforted Repulse when she had one of her own sinking."
I glanced at Charlotte contemplatively, "I envy you actually, as a paper ship you never saw War, never lost friends, sisters or were sunk yourself, nothing to come back and haunt you."
Charlotte fidgeted, "are they common? the nightmares, I mean."
"Somewhat," I admitted, a little uncomfortably, "we're made up of the spiritual weight of hundreds to thousands of men, a gestalt of souls if you want, but they're still distinct and form our crew. Which means we're formed from not only their memories but their hopes, dreams and their fears and nightmares."
Charlotte was silent for a moment, "do we get used to it?"
"If you get used to it, then go see Darwin for a bit of Therapy-no-Jutsu," I advised her seriously, "it's a sign you're losing your Humanity."
"But aren't Abyssals inhuman by nature?" Charlotte asked with a cutely confused expression.
I try not to visibly react, "Charlotte, remember what I said about souls?" a nod, "we are literally distilled Human essence, the difference between us and the Shipgirls is they don't have the Abyss clawing at their minds."
"What's the Abyss exactly?" Charlotte asked, OK if that wouldn't give away she's a shipgirl nothing would.
That said, "I don't actually have an answer," I admitted, "the closest analogy I can give is the Force from Star Wars and Dark Side corruption and that really doesn't come all that close. It's a... presence, that binds us, in it's way defines us, as we fight it's influence grows, smothering our Humanity until we're empty shells of anger and hatred. Fleet Darwin is lucky that we don't see that much fighting since the War has moved on, we're mostly left alone.
Everytime I come back from a combat sortie there's a feeling I'm dirty that takes days to fade, no matter how long I bathe or shower, if I'd actually sunk even one shipgirl it would probably take longer, if it ever faded," I concluded, taking a drink from my mug.
We sat in a contemplative silence for a few minutes as Charlotte digested what I said.
"And why did you capture that convoy at the exchange, it was a surprise to both shipgirls and us prisoners?" She then asked, now that was a legitimate question even if she wasn't a plant.
"Wa class transports are the lowest form of Abyssal," I told her uneasily, "even the Imps are a higher form of life," seeing as Imps aren't technically zombies, "we hoped we could use captured merchant shipgirls as substitutes but the influence of the Abyss showed signs of turning them into Wa's, that's not a fate we'd subject our worst enemies to. If we didn't need them we'd mercy kill them."
"Why is everyone afraid of this meeting with the Iron Bottom Sound Princess?" Charlotte asked cautiously, "why is Lady Darwin afraid?"
"There's several answers to that question," I replied, "the least of which is she's batshit insane."
Charlotte blinked in surprise, "being insane is the least reason?"
I nodded gravely, "the next reason is that the older a shipgirl or Abyssal gets the stronger they get and Iron Bottom showed up six months after Blood Week."
That was years ago now.
"The final reason is to do with how she formed," I added, "the lowest form of Princess are the type Princesses, like the Light Cruiser Princess that was at the exchange, with me so far?"
Charlotte nodded.
"Next you have the Installations and unique Abyssals, Installations are the Abyssal manifestations of places like Darwin Harbour or Henderson field on Guadalcanal, Lady Darwin and Henrietta respectively, while unique Abyssals are the manifestations of specific ships, the Twin Straits Princesses are Fuso and Yamashiro and the Samoa Twins are the armoured cruisers Scharnhorst and Gniesenau respectively."
I took a steadying breath, "then you have the ones like Iron Bottom, Jellyfish and North Sea, these are not formed like the others, they are formed like us."
"I don't understand?" Charlotte protested, "if they're like us what are they formed from?"
"They form where ships were sunk," I said pointedly, "where hulls lie, where ships clashed in a terrible struggle, where hundreds of souls went to the depths in the hulls that carried them, where thousands of men expressed their darkest emotions in the most raw and direct fashion possible."
"They're Battles," the Horrified cruiser whispered, "they're the Manifestations of Battles."
"Something far greater and more terrible than any single installation or ship," I noted solemnly, "and this one's insane," I added in a faux cheery voice.
"Not only is she insane, she's called a meeting with the top ten most Powerful Princesses in the pacific, the one time one of those bitches acknowledges Darwin's stronger than she seems, oh the Irony," I continued with a groan.
"And I'm probably going to be one of her escorts," I sighed and closed my eyes as despair began to settle.
A pair of arms slid around my shoulders and a weight pressed against my chest lightly, opening my eyes I found a mass of black hair inches from me.
"Charlotte?"
"You looked like you needed a hug," the cruiser replied, I slid my own arm around her waist."
"Thank you," the cruiser released the hug, blushing but with a happy smile.
On returning to her chair, Charlotte looked at me again, "I've been wondering, how come you're the Third Division flagship? Shouldn't Repulse be in command?"
That had puzzled me at first, "She should, but sometimes we manifest with quirks that have their roots in our Steel Hulls' lives. In this case, Repulse wasn't the flagship of Force Z, Prince of Wales was, she's content with the second in command role and doesn't want to be In command, so after I took the initiative and lead the squadron in my early sorties Henrietta made me the Flagship."
Charlotte hummed and I took the opportunity to claim my book, opening to the book marked page I began to read.
Maybe this won't be so bad after all.
Last edited:
- Location
- england
good to see a chapter again...... and man was it a doozy
That is a good story, I would love to see more.
In a Titan's Shadow
I knew this was a mistake.
The Shipgirl's body struggles cease as the life fades from her...
It was a spur of the moment thing, I knew I was going to be witness to the worst my kind had to offer, I expected to see violence or even death.
The Brave cruiser's eyes meet mine, conveying her gratitude even as her life faded away.
I feel sick as the Chinese Shipgirl falls limp against Iron Bottom, the insane Princess looking at myself, German Samoa Twins and one of the Raiders with a look of betrayal.
I tune out my gunnery officer as they report four out of four hits, harder to ignore is the Triumphal Roar of the Abyss on the edge of my perception and the cloying darkness I feel now I, finally, have blood on my hands. Even if It was a mercy kill and I was the least of the ones that fired.
[You Dare!?] Iron Bottom shrieked, her body quivering with rage, [I invite you into my Home, acquire the best refreshment, prepare the finest entertainment for you and you murder the guest of honour?]
"Honour?" I can't prevent the near-hysterical laugh leaving me.
[There is no honour in keeping a traitor captive for the sake of torturing them for entertainment,] Scharnhorst replied, stowing her rigging as she spoke and less than impressed with our host.
[Some of the Humans most successful motion pictures are based on the same premise, curious that you seem to also enjoy the premise,] Gneisenau added pointedly, also stowing her rigging.
"How Human," the raider sneered, crossing her arms, which seemed to highlight the smoking muzzles of her main battery.
Iron bottom considers this, shrugs, then tosses the corpse aside, my eyes follow it and my belly does a flip as I realize several of the visiting Princess' escorts are eying it like prime steak.
[Sisters!] Iron Bottom exclaimed grandly, [Daughters of the Abyss! I have summoned you here today not just to entertain you...]
I managed not to visibly react beyond a twitch as I stow my rigging.
[Or even to revel in honour of our glorious victories over Humanity and the traitors,] Iron Bottom continued grandiosely, seemingly oblivious to the mood of the room.
[Get on with it,] a Princess interrupted, I turned to look at the speaker and froze.
She was easily as tall as Darwin, equally as "Endowed" too, she was wearing a white dress that seemed to have a double layered skirt, her white hair was long and it seemed as if it hang in ribbons that subtly shifted as I watched, almost like she were underwater, her sleeves were torn into long ribbons that hung around her and her feet were bare, both her finger and toe nails were painted black.
As I watched she seemed to sense my gaze, turning her head, half her face was covered in a black metallic growth typical of the physical manifestation of the Abyss' influence and forming a half mask like from the phantom of the opera, her one good eye bored into me and I felt my heart stop...
"Sara..."
An eyebrow raises and I realize I spoke aloud, she scrutinizes me for a second then her good eye widens in surprise, she looks away but glances back and I catch a light shining in her eye. As she turns away again my Signals Officer reports receiving a signal from Jellyfish and he's decoding it now.
[...is Threat is not from one of the Traitors among the Humans, oh no,] Iron Bottom is apparently still hamming it up, [but one of our own.]
[A Raider then,] Darwin deduced from Iron Bottom's hammery, [one that's gone rogue].
[Quite so, my dear Darwin!] Iron Bottom confirmed with much gesticulation, [a unique battleship Princess, attacking anything in sight,] Iron Bottom paused thoughtfully, [almost anything, she's gained a small collection of nomads that she accepted for some ungodly reason, rather strange given she normally shoots anything in sight.]
"So she can tell if a targets Human, traitor, claimed Abyssal or unclaimed Abyssal," the raider that still had her rigging out said, "so? I can do that as well, so can any raider that lasts a few months."
That's a point, even I can roughly tell if my spotters have spotted a steel hull, Shipgirl or Abyssal by gut instinct by this point. Not 100% reliable but it's a thing.
So what makes this one different, it can't just be it's effectiveness, could it?
[Ah, but this one is different, my dear] Iron Bottom countered with a "I know something you don't know" smug grin, [this one is unsinkable.]
[A Bold claim, Iron Bottom,] Singapore observed, [I trust you can back it up?]
[Of course, Lady Singapore,] Holy Shit! She actually Bowed to Singapore, [footage taken by one of my lesser demons that escaped my attempt to put her in her place], she then clicked her fingers, the lights dimmed, a screen unfurled and a projector switched on.
What follows is an education on a number of Abyssal types I haven't met yet, particularly a Re-class flagship leading a mixed squadron of Ru and Nu classes and a motley collection of cruisers and destroyers.
The battle, if you can call it that, is a slaughter, nothing the attackers do seem to do more than irritate the Raider, the best effort being a torpedo salvo that lands two hits and grants the camera Abyssal a stay of execution by slowing the Raider considerably as they develop a list to port. As the camera retreats the Re closes and attempts a melee assault but is picked up and slowly ripped in two.
I barely keep my breakfast down for the three minutes it takes the Re to die.
By this point the Raider's upperworks and bridge have been wrecked by aerial bombardment, but her conning tower isn't even scratched so she keeps on going, as the last Ru dies all pretence of order fails and the rest scatter to the four winds, the camera Abyssal surviving because the Raider takes off after a Nu.
I could just make out the profile of the Raider's steel hull, something about it seemed familiar, my spotters were trying to find it in our Warbook.
[Do you see now, my Sisters?] Iron Bottom declared, [the threat posed this rogue...]
[What does it matter to us if you've thrown away some of your forces by foolishly challenging a rogue?] one of the roving Princess' questioned derisively.
As the arguing continued I kept wracking my memory for why that Raider looked familiar. He lines appeared to be American, in fact there was a resemblance to myself or the South Dakota's only massively bigger.
Twelve 16" guns in four turrets, nearly a thousand feet long, a hundred and eight-ish feet wide, thirty two feet... deep? all casemate secondaries in the superstructure - oh Dear GOD!
"What's her top speed?" I briefly felt nauseous as the Entire room focused on me, in particular Darwin and Henrietta's eyes boring into the back of my head, "What did the survivors report her top speed as?" I repeated.
[You think you are important enough to speak to your bet-]
*Boom*
The Battleship Princess (that probably belonged to New Guinea Princess) collapsed in a burst of gore as my forward turrets sent two 16" shells into both her bridge and conning tower, I glared around the room at the other, lesser Abyssals as the Abyss cheered my new found savagery once more, "anyone else think propriety is more important than identifying a Threat to our Mistresses?"
The silence was telling.
[HaHaHa! This One has Spirit, you chose well Darwin!] I barely suppressed a shiver at Iron Bottom's... enthusiasm, [in answer to your question, the interloper was observed at 27 knots maximum by my surviving Abyssals.]
That settled it. Fuck!
"Your Interloper is a Tillman 1, Lady Iron Bottom," I informed the Host of this gathering, bowing respectfully, "a US battleship design study that was conducted in parallel to the Standards while I and my sister's final design was being worked up," I explained, crossing my arms under my chest (trying to ignore the Abyssals staring at them hungrily), "975' long, 108' wide, 32' and 9" deep, twelve 16"/50 caliber guns in four triple turrets, 22 5" guns in superstructure casemates , 4 3" AA guns, 3" of deck armour and 18" of belt armour".
[That explains how a Re Flagship could be so easily dispatched, at least,] Batavia acknowledged grudgingly, [her opponent was able to shrug off nearly everything and what it couldn't did little more than superficial damage.]
[Very well, now that Darwin's little spitfire has identified this new Enemy, what do we do about it?] Rabaul asked bringing the conversation back on track.
As attention settled onto Rabaul, Iron Bottom and the other major Princess' I took the opportunity to quietly retreat from the front row, thus the center of attention, and into the safety of the crowd. as the adrenaline high began to fade I was becoming increasingly aware of the cloying dirty feeling of the Abyss under my skin, I'm going to need a long soak if I'm ever going to feel clean ag...
'That was a Very foolish thing you did, Lexington.'
Any sense of relief died horribly at my Lady's transmission, 'My Lady, I..."
'You do not need to explain. Precedent is on your side and you were correct in that, as our subordinates, your duty to us comes before All else, including, as you termed it, propriety.' Lady Darwin explained, her motherly tone clear over the wireless as if she'd spoken aloud.
'However, you spoke out of turn And executed a lesser Princess that was Subordinate to another, committing a faux pas that reflects poorly upon myself but also requiring me to make reparations to the Princess you deprived of a minion.' Darwin rebuked lightly.
I could practically hear the Abyss laughing at me as the bottom fell out of my stomach, swallowing, I bowed my head, 'My Lady, I accept all punishment you deem fit.'
'We will discuss that at home,' Darwin promised, 'for now...'
[Sisters!] Iron Bottom's voice boomed overhead, [There has been much discussion, and much flaring of Tempers. Therefore, a break is in order. Refreshments have been provided for your consumption, and we shall resume in thirty minutes.]
'You may take a break to compose yourself,' Darwin concluded, 'But do not stray too far.'
'Understood, My Lady,' I replied, then glanced around to get my bearings, spying a balcony of sorts I started to walk towards it but on my second step my heel came down on something soft, soft and... I lifted my foot and slowly looked down, Nausea roiling in my gut as I saw I had stepped on exactly what I had feared.
A Hand.
A Bloody. Severed. Hand. Ning Hai's judging by the colour of the skin.
A glance over my shoulder revealed a bloody smear that disappeared into the crowd where the Abyssal I'd killed had fallen, I probably looked pretty green as my stomach threatened to rebel as the implications percolating through my mind.
"Are you going to eat that?"
My head snapped to the opposite side, where a cautiously hopeful Ri class stood, one hand outstretched and pointing at my feet, fighting to keep my last meal down I ignored her and walked towards the balcony, lengthening my stride so as to not step on the last remnant of a brave Chinese Shipgirl and to quicken my pace without giving away my true feelings... and to hopefully get outside before I threw up.
"Your loss," I almost stumbled at the Ri's parting comment but kept on walking, thankfully getting outside and into fresh air before I threw up.
Reaching the railing I took hold of it and took a series of deep breaths, trying to calm my stomach as the nausea slowly receded.
For a short while it was just me, the sea air and the sun on my skin. Some days I just want to step off the pier and sail around for a while, no course or destination in mind, just the feel of the ocean passing by beneath my feet.
[Lexington?]
I will deny any claim I jumped three foot in fright.
I spun round and felt a flutter in my boiler flues, "Sara... Saratoga? Little sister, is that really you?"
The Jellyfish Princess smiled, her face brightening to almost match he visage that danced through my dreams, [yes Big Sister, it's me.]
There was a prickling under my eyes as I impulsively took a step forward, I restrained myself as the Battleship and Carrier Princesses with Sara tensed, but Sara opened her arms in invitation, the flood gates opened and I ran into my sister's embrace.
As Saratoga's arms closed around me, I felt safe for the first time since I woke up on that slipway. Safe, warm, loved. Tears I'd held back as long as I could remember flowed freely as I was held by my sister.
[I was afraid] Sara's spoke into my hair, [when I couldn't summon you, I was afraid that They had summoned you. That the first time I would see you again would be across the battlefield.]
"So was I," I admitted softly, tightening my grip just a little bit, then lifted my head of her chest to look Sara in her good eye, "I was afraid the first thing I'd see of you would be your aircraft trying to sink me, I'm so happy that didn't happen."
Even with her face half covered by Abyssal metal, Sara has a beautiful smile, [so am I. Although, I am surprised you were summoned as laid down, not as completed.]
I looked away and my right arm came up to rub my left on one of the spots where the breakers had cut into me, "I... I woke up on the slipway."
[what.]
"I woke up on the slipway," I repeated quietly, "right before the work gangs came. I... It was horrible, I couldn't see, smell of taste, there was no feeling in my body. I called out but nobody answered, then there were voices but they didn't hear me call out, or at least they didn't react to me calling out. Then the pain started."
I took a shuddering breath as Sara's escorts gasped, "I felt the bite of the cutters, my body melting under the heat of the torches, the cruel hooks that were used to lift the severed pieces away..."
I'm shivering now, tears spilling down my cheeks as Sara's arms slid around me once more,"and I could feel my life fade from the pieces they took. With every part that was lifted off a part of me was lost, with each passing second my life, my being diminished, with each piece taken I became less, my thoughts grew fainter, what feeling I had grew dimmer.
When Lady Darwin spoke to me and offered to save me I accepted, I was dying one piece at a time, I was terrified and latched on to the first hope of salvation I could," I deliberately did not look up, despite the fact Sara can probably feel my blush on her chest, "not the smartest thing in hindsight, but Lady Darwin and her fleet have been good to me."
[You're right, that wasn't very smart,] Sara replied dryly, relaxing her grip on me, [but yes, it seems to have turned out for the best.]
I bit my lip as something that had bothered me for some time resurfaced in my mind, "Sara?"
[Mhnm]
"There was another voice, when Lady Darwin spoke to me, I couldn't make out what it was saying, but I heard it," I told her.
[Probably a human summoning effort,] Sara replied soothingly, running her hand through my hair, which was surprisingly relaxing, [or even my own, that was blocked because Darwin had claim to you.]
It's a good answer, what I want to hear, but it doesn't silence my fears, "Sara... what - what if I wasn't the only one to wake up that day?"
Sara didn't answer verbally, but she held me that little bit closer.
[SISTERS! NOW WE ARE FED AND FUELED, IT IS TIME TO RETURN TO OUR DISCOURSE!] Iron Butt's voice echoed over the island.
"At least she'll never have trouble being heard if her radio fails," I muttered as Sara released me.
Sara smiled as her escorts coughed suspiciously, [come, we must return].
As we all reentered Iron Butt's home, Sara looked down at me.
[Sister? Would you come visit me sometimes? An Island paradise can be lonely without someone to enjoy it with.]
"Sara, I live in Australia. If Lady Darwin permits I will happily take a reprieve from the wildlife."
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The band was playing the last stanza of Stars and Stripes Forever, the air was thick enough to cut, there was a thick mist hanging above the surface of the pool.
'All the signs of a successful summoning,' Colorado thought as the room seemed to dim yet the mist grew brighter, yet also thicker.
The light in the mist faded and the room returned to a normal ambience as the band finished.
The mist dispersed to reveal a tall, leggy Shipgirl with an hourglass figure, waist length chestnut hair, bright hazel eyes and plump, pouty lips.
The new Shipgirl saluted, "CC-2 USS Constellation, Reporting for Duty."
The Shipgirl's body struggles cease as the life fades from her...
It was a spur of the moment thing, I knew I was going to be witness to the worst my kind had to offer, I expected to see violence or even death.
The Brave cruiser's eyes meet mine, conveying her gratitude even as her life faded away.
I feel sick as the Chinese Shipgirl falls limp against Iron Bottom, the insane Princess looking at myself, German Samoa Twins and one of the Raiders with a look of betrayal.
I tune out my gunnery officer as they report four out of four hits, harder to ignore is the Triumphal Roar of the Abyss on the edge of my perception and the cloying darkness I feel now I, finally, have blood on my hands. Even if It was a mercy kill and I was the least of the ones that fired.
[You Dare!?] Iron Bottom shrieked, her body quivering with rage, [I invite you into my Home, acquire the best refreshment, prepare the finest entertainment for you and you murder the guest of honour?]
"Honour?" I can't prevent the near-hysterical laugh leaving me.
[There is no honour in keeping a traitor captive for the sake of torturing them for entertainment,] Scharnhorst replied, stowing her rigging as she spoke and less than impressed with our host.
[Some of the Humans most successful motion pictures are based on the same premise, curious that you seem to also enjoy the premise,] Gneisenau added pointedly, also stowing her rigging.
"How Human," the raider sneered, crossing her arms, which seemed to highlight the smoking muzzles of her main battery.
Iron bottom considers this, shrugs, then tosses the corpse aside, my eyes follow it and my belly does a flip as I realize several of the visiting Princess' escorts are eying it like prime steak.
[Sisters!] Iron Bottom exclaimed grandly, [Daughters of the Abyss! I have summoned you here today not just to entertain you...]
I managed not to visibly react beyond a twitch as I stow my rigging.
[Or even to revel in honour of our glorious victories over Humanity and the traitors,] Iron Bottom continued grandiosely, seemingly oblivious to the mood of the room.
[Get on with it,] a Princess interrupted, I turned to look at the speaker and froze.
She was easily as tall as Darwin, equally as "Endowed" too, she was wearing a white dress that seemed to have a double layered skirt, her white hair was long and it seemed as if it hang in ribbons that subtly shifted as I watched, almost like she were underwater, her sleeves were torn into long ribbons that hung around her and her feet were bare, both her finger and toe nails were painted black.
As I watched she seemed to sense my gaze, turning her head, half her face was covered in a black metallic growth typical of the physical manifestation of the Abyss' influence and forming a half mask like from the phantom of the opera, her one good eye bored into me and I felt my heart stop...
"Sara..."
An eyebrow raises and I realize I spoke aloud, she scrutinizes me for a second then her good eye widens in surprise, she looks away but glances back and I catch a light shining in her eye. As she turns away again my Signals Officer reports receiving a signal from Jellyfish and he's decoding it now.
[...is Threat is not from one of the Traitors among the Humans, oh no,] Iron Bottom is apparently still hamming it up, [but one of our own.]
[A Raider then,] Darwin deduced from Iron Bottom's hammery, [one that's gone rogue].
[Quite so, my dear Darwin!] Iron Bottom confirmed with much gesticulation, [a unique battleship Princess, attacking anything in sight,] Iron Bottom paused thoughtfully, [almost anything, she's gained a small collection of nomads that she accepted for some ungodly reason, rather strange given she normally shoots anything in sight.]
"So she can tell if a targets Human, traitor, claimed Abyssal or unclaimed Abyssal," the raider that still had her rigging out said, "so? I can do that as well, so can any raider that lasts a few months."
That's a point, even I can roughly tell if my spotters have spotted a steel hull, Shipgirl or Abyssal by gut instinct by this point. Not 100% reliable but it's a thing.
So what makes this one different, it can't just be it's effectiveness, could it?
[Ah, but this one is different, my dear] Iron Bottom countered with a "I know something you don't know" smug grin, [this one is unsinkable.]
[A Bold claim, Iron Bottom,] Singapore observed, [I trust you can back it up?]
[Of course, Lady Singapore,] Holy Shit! She actually Bowed to Singapore, [footage taken by one of my lesser demons that escaped my attempt to put her in her place], she then clicked her fingers, the lights dimmed, a screen unfurled and a projector switched on.
What follows is an education on a number of Abyssal types I haven't met yet, particularly a Re-class flagship leading a mixed squadron of Ru and Nu classes and a motley collection of cruisers and destroyers.
The battle, if you can call it that, is a slaughter, nothing the attackers do seem to do more than irritate the Raider, the best effort being a torpedo salvo that lands two hits and grants the camera Abyssal a stay of execution by slowing the Raider considerably as they develop a list to port. As the camera retreats the Re closes and attempts a melee assault but is picked up and slowly ripped in two.
I barely keep my breakfast down for the three minutes it takes the Re to die.
By this point the Raider's upperworks and bridge have been wrecked by aerial bombardment, but her conning tower isn't even scratched so she keeps on going, as the last Ru dies all pretence of order fails and the rest scatter to the four winds, the camera Abyssal surviving because the Raider takes off after a Nu.
I could just make out the profile of the Raider's steel hull, something about it seemed familiar, my spotters were trying to find it in our Warbook.
[Do you see now, my Sisters?] Iron Bottom declared, [the threat posed this rogue...]
[What does it matter to us if you've thrown away some of your forces by foolishly challenging a rogue?] one of the roving Princess' questioned derisively.
As the arguing continued I kept wracking my memory for why that Raider looked familiar. He lines appeared to be American, in fact there was a resemblance to myself or the South Dakota's only massively bigger.
Twelve 16" guns in four turrets, nearly a thousand feet long, a hundred and eight-ish feet wide, thirty two feet... deep? all casemate secondaries in the superstructure - oh Dear GOD!
"What's her top speed?" I briefly felt nauseous as the Entire room focused on me, in particular Darwin and Henrietta's eyes boring into the back of my head, "What did the survivors report her top speed as?" I repeated.
[You think you are important enough to speak to your bet-]
*Boom*
The Battleship Princess (that probably belonged to New Guinea Princess) collapsed in a burst of gore as my forward turrets sent two 16" shells into both her bridge and conning tower, I glared around the room at the other, lesser Abyssals as the Abyss cheered my new found savagery once more, "anyone else think propriety is more important than identifying a Threat to our Mistresses?"
The silence was telling.
[HaHaHa! This One has Spirit, you chose well Darwin!] I barely suppressed a shiver at Iron Bottom's... enthusiasm, [in answer to your question, the interloper was observed at 27 knots maximum by my surviving Abyssals.]
That settled it. Fuck!
"Your Interloper is a Tillman 1, Lady Iron Bottom," I informed the Host of this gathering, bowing respectfully, "a US battleship design study that was conducted in parallel to the Standards while I and my sister's final design was being worked up," I explained, crossing my arms under my chest (trying to ignore the Abyssals staring at them hungrily), "975' long, 108' wide, 32' and 9" deep, twelve 16"/50 caliber guns in four triple turrets, 22 5" guns in superstructure casemates , 4 3" AA guns, 3" of deck armour and 18" of belt armour".
[That explains how a Re Flagship could be so easily dispatched, at least,] Batavia acknowledged grudgingly, [her opponent was able to shrug off nearly everything and what it couldn't did little more than superficial damage.]
[Very well, now that Darwin's little spitfire has identified this new Enemy, what do we do about it?] Rabaul asked bringing the conversation back on track.
As attention settled onto Rabaul, Iron Bottom and the other major Princess' I took the opportunity to quietly retreat from the front row, thus the center of attention, and into the safety of the crowd. as the adrenaline high began to fade I was becoming increasingly aware of the cloying dirty feeling of the Abyss under my skin, I'm going to need a long soak if I'm ever going to feel clean ag...
'That was a Very foolish thing you did, Lexington.'
Any sense of relief died horribly at my Lady's transmission, 'My Lady, I..."
'You do not need to explain. Precedent is on your side and you were correct in that, as our subordinates, your duty to us comes before All else, including, as you termed it, propriety.' Lady Darwin explained, her motherly tone clear over the wireless as if she'd spoken aloud.
'However, you spoke out of turn And executed a lesser Princess that was Subordinate to another, committing a faux pas that reflects poorly upon myself but also requiring me to make reparations to the Princess you deprived of a minion.' Darwin rebuked lightly.
I could practically hear the Abyss laughing at me as the bottom fell out of my stomach, swallowing, I bowed my head, 'My Lady, I accept all punishment you deem fit.'
'We will discuss that at home,' Darwin promised, 'for now...'
[Sisters!] Iron Bottom's voice boomed overhead, [There has been much discussion, and much flaring of Tempers. Therefore, a break is in order. Refreshments have been provided for your consumption, and we shall resume in thirty minutes.]
'You may take a break to compose yourself,' Darwin concluded, 'But do not stray too far.'
'Understood, My Lady,' I replied, then glanced around to get my bearings, spying a balcony of sorts I started to walk towards it but on my second step my heel came down on something soft, soft and... I lifted my foot and slowly looked down, Nausea roiling in my gut as I saw I had stepped on exactly what I had feared.
A Hand.
A Bloody. Severed. Hand. Ning Hai's judging by the colour of the skin.
A glance over my shoulder revealed a bloody smear that disappeared into the crowd where the Abyssal I'd killed had fallen, I probably looked pretty green as my stomach threatened to rebel as the implications percolating through my mind.
"Are you going to eat that?"
My head snapped to the opposite side, where a cautiously hopeful Ri class stood, one hand outstretched and pointing at my feet, fighting to keep my last meal down I ignored her and walked towards the balcony, lengthening my stride so as to not step on the last remnant of a brave Chinese Shipgirl and to quicken my pace without giving away my true feelings... and to hopefully get outside before I threw up.
"Your loss," I almost stumbled at the Ri's parting comment but kept on walking, thankfully getting outside and into fresh air before I threw up.
Reaching the railing I took hold of it and took a series of deep breaths, trying to calm my stomach as the nausea slowly receded.
For a short while it was just me, the sea air and the sun on my skin. Some days I just want to step off the pier and sail around for a while, no course or destination in mind, just the feel of the ocean passing by beneath my feet.
[Lexington?]
I will deny any claim I jumped three foot in fright.
I spun round and felt a flutter in my boiler flues, "Sara... Saratoga? Little sister, is that really you?"
The Jellyfish Princess smiled, her face brightening to almost match he visage that danced through my dreams, [yes Big Sister, it's me.]
There was a prickling under my eyes as I impulsively took a step forward, I restrained myself as the Battleship and Carrier Princesses with Sara tensed, but Sara opened her arms in invitation, the flood gates opened and I ran into my sister's embrace.
As Saratoga's arms closed around me, I felt safe for the first time since I woke up on that slipway. Safe, warm, loved. Tears I'd held back as long as I could remember flowed freely as I was held by my sister.
[I was afraid] Sara's spoke into my hair, [when I couldn't summon you, I was afraid that They had summoned you. That the first time I would see you again would be across the battlefield.]
"So was I," I admitted softly, tightening my grip just a little bit, then lifted my head of her chest to look Sara in her good eye, "I was afraid the first thing I'd see of you would be your aircraft trying to sink me, I'm so happy that didn't happen."
Even with her face half covered by Abyssal metal, Sara has a beautiful smile, [so am I. Although, I am surprised you were summoned as laid down, not as completed.]
I looked away and my right arm came up to rub my left on one of the spots where the breakers had cut into me, "I... I woke up on the slipway."
[what.]
"I woke up on the slipway," I repeated quietly, "right before the work gangs came. I... It was horrible, I couldn't see, smell of taste, there was no feeling in my body. I called out but nobody answered, then there were voices but they didn't hear me call out, or at least they didn't react to me calling out. Then the pain started."
I took a shuddering breath as Sara's escorts gasped, "I felt the bite of the cutters, my body melting under the heat of the torches, the cruel hooks that were used to lift the severed pieces away..."
I'm shivering now, tears spilling down my cheeks as Sara's arms slid around me once more,"and I could feel my life fade from the pieces they took. With every part that was lifted off a part of me was lost, with each passing second my life, my being diminished, with each piece taken I became less, my thoughts grew fainter, what feeling I had grew dimmer.
When Lady Darwin spoke to me and offered to save me I accepted, I was dying one piece at a time, I was terrified and latched on to the first hope of salvation I could," I deliberately did not look up, despite the fact Sara can probably feel my blush on her chest, "not the smartest thing in hindsight, but Lady Darwin and her fleet have been good to me."
[You're right, that wasn't very smart,] Sara replied dryly, relaxing her grip on me, [but yes, it seems to have turned out for the best.]
I bit my lip as something that had bothered me for some time resurfaced in my mind, "Sara?"
[Mhnm]
"There was another voice, when Lady Darwin spoke to me, I couldn't make out what it was saying, but I heard it," I told her.
[Probably a human summoning effort,] Sara replied soothingly, running her hand through my hair, which was surprisingly relaxing, [or even my own, that was blocked because Darwin had claim to you.]
It's a good answer, what I want to hear, but it doesn't silence my fears, "Sara... what - what if I wasn't the only one to wake up that day?"
Sara didn't answer verbally, but she held me that little bit closer.
[SISTERS! NOW WE ARE FED AND FUELED, IT IS TIME TO RETURN TO OUR DISCOURSE!] Iron Butt's voice echoed over the island.
"At least she'll never have trouble being heard if her radio fails," I muttered as Sara released me.
Sara smiled as her escorts coughed suspiciously, [come, we must return].
As we all reentered Iron Butt's home, Sara looked down at me.
[Sister? Would you come visit me sometimes? An Island paradise can be lonely without someone to enjoy it with.]
"Sara, I live in Australia. If Lady Darwin permits I will happily take a reprieve from the wildlife."
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The band was playing the last stanza of Stars and Stripes Forever, the air was thick enough to cut, there was a thick mist hanging above the surface of the pool.
'All the signs of a successful summoning,' Colorado thought as the room seemed to dim yet the mist grew brighter, yet also thicker.
The light in the mist faded and the room returned to a normal ambience as the band finished.
The mist dispersed to reveal a tall, leggy Shipgirl with an hourglass figure, waist length chestnut hair, bright hazel eyes and plump, pouty lips.
The new Shipgirl saluted, "CC-2 USS Constellation, Reporting for Duty."
wtdtd
slow thinker, with crippling abundance of time
- Location
- The Netherlands
This chapter has problems.
The mc is an underling, yet twice she steps out of line and everyone is fine with it.
Once could have been explained, but twice not, seeing as these are all princesses proud of their authority and some just a smite crazy.
And this underling just walked over them.
It strains my suspension of disbelief.
The mc is an underling, yet twice she steps out of line and everyone is fine with it.
Once could have been explained, but twice not, seeing as these are all princesses proud of their authority and some just a smite crazy.
And this underling just walked over them.
It strains my suspension of disbelief.
Gonna be honest, I think most of the Princesses were annoyed at Iron bottom for calling them for something they didn't really care about, and also were entertained enough by her antics that they didn't care enough to do anything. Now, this isn't to say there won't be consequences later, especially for killing a shipgirl (abyssal BS), not to mention the Princess's commander (?) won't be happy with the MC.