Chapter 17:
You know, this is not exactly how I expected this to happen.
Admiral Thompson sighed softly, as he looked at the paper in his hands. Halsey sat across from him, and Enterprise looked between the two men with clear confusion written across her face. Granted, he would have preferred to have Sara in that position. The Admiral trusted Enterprise with his life, of course. She was
Enterprise. But, he missed having his friend there with him all the same. Hell, Sara would probably have some good advice for him right about now.
But no.
He was on his own here, staring down the paper that refused to change or spontaneously burn up. Which would be nice, since it might get his mind off it. Since that was hardly likely to happen though...
"Taranto," Thompson finally spoke up, looking up at Halsey.
"Taranto," the other Admiral replied, nodding along. Though the nod was directed at Enterprise, who snapped to attention.
She had been doing that a lot, lately. Ever since Halsey was able to see her, every time that Thompson came to Big E, the carrier was acting more and more like a proper sailor. It was an interesting transformation to watch, actually. Hell, he could still remember what she was like the first time he was here. All timid and shy, but eager to please. Now she was acting...well. Still timid as all hell, but at least a bit more like a sailor.
It was nice to see, in a way, wasn't it? More familiar at least.
"Sara is connected, Admiral," Enterprise spoke up, her voice pitched
just right to mimic Halsey himself.
If the twitch of the man's lips was any indication, it amused him. The Admiral nodded at his carrier, before turning to Thompson again, "Well, James?"
"I still wish I was doing this on Sara," the younger man replied, getting a raised eyebrow from his counterpart. Sighing, Thompson nodded and held the paper up. No delaying, apparently. "British hit the Italians napping. Glorious and Eagle, they lost six bombers in exchange for one Italian battleship sunk, and two crippled. Not bad, considering it was a night attack."
"Hm..." Sara hummed in thought, her voice carrying through the room. "
I wonder. We, Lex and I, have demonstrated the vulnerability of the fleet here at Pearl several times now Admiral. But never at night."
Halsey grunted softly, laying a hand on the table as sharp eyes bored into Thompson. Who still felt uncomfortable under that gaze, completely unused to working with Bull Halsey, even now.
"I've seen the Fleet Problems. Pearl is at risk, yes. But I find it very hard to believe the Japs would ever manage a night attack from across the entire goddamn Pacific."
Thompson shrugged, placing the paper back down. He knew the answer, of course. The Japanese wouldn't try a night attack, but they didn't need to. Hitting Pearl on a Sunday morning worked just as well, now didn't it? It
had worked better than the Taranto raid. And that was what he was trying to prevent, no matter what it took to
do it.
"I don't think they would, honestly." Thompson continued. He
hated lying. If Halsey ever caught him out on it, an ass-chewing was the least of his worries. But one step at a time, and the other Admiral was sure as hell not ready to know the full truth. "But, if the Brits can do this with two antique carriers, I wonder what Japan could do with two antiques and two modern carriers?"
In the background, Enterprise frowned. The blonde carrier walked up to the table, tilting her head down at the seated Admirals. More specifically, she tilted it at Thompson. He looked right back up, leaning back slightly. Maybe she didn't realize it, but Little E's red eyes made her stare quite...intense. Regardless of how
young she was.
"Four carriers...we have four in the Pacific too, Admiral." Enterprise finally spoke up, honest confusion in her tone. Her head tilted to the side slightly, the carrier tapping the table in thought. "And aren't two of them the same as Aunt Lex and Sara?"
"Aunt?" Halsey raised an eyebrow, looking at his carrier. Daughter. Whatever one was calling her now.
Enterprise blushed brightly, as Sara giggled over the radio. Thompson just sighed, though his mouth twitched up into a smile. Seemed like every time Little E opened her mouth, she managed to embarrass herself. It was almost...ah screw it. It
was cute as all hell, even if it was nothing like the E he remembered.
"At any rate," still, he took pity on the poor carrier. Enterprise sent him a grateful look, as the Admiral continued speaking. "Lex and Sara are a hell of a lot better than Akagi and Kaga. So no, they may be the same age, but I'd bet on Sara over them, ten times out of ten."
Maybe he was a little biased, so what? Either way, the fact did remain that Lex and Sara were much better conversions than Akagi or Kaga could ever hope to be. That was just simple facts, no offense to the girls in question. Akagi may have been a friend, but that didn't change the truth. Especially not...not when he would have to fight her, at some point in the future.
One step at a time Thompson, one step at a time.
"Thank you for the vote of confidence, Admiral," for her part, Sara's voice had changed. The carrier was much more subdued and sounded
thankful.
Smiling, Thompson shook his head. Just like with Little E, he sometimes forgot this Sara wasn't as confident in her abilities as the one he remembered. She was still the kind, great friend he remembered. But on the other hand, he needed to remember the differences. Even now, months later, it wasn't always easy.
He wished he could be with Sara to place a hand on her shoulder. Remind her that
he trusted her implicitly. But he wasn't. And as such...
"Not a problem, Sara," the Admiral replied, smile not fading. Even if he knew she couldn't see it. "Anyway, Glorious and Eagle aren't anything to write home about either. If the British can do it, you can bet the Japanese will at least try, if we ever end up at war."
Halsey scowled as the younger man finished, placing his hands on the report. His eyes narrowed, the Admiral looking like...well, like Thompson might have expected. "I'd like to see the sons of bitches try. They'd have to get past
us first."
And
there was the other problem. Thompson sighed inwardly, as he resisted every urge to shake his head. Halsey was a very confident man, to say the least. And it was hardly
his place to judge him, wasn't it? This was
Bull Halsey. But...but...
Even the best could be wrong.
"They don't have to," Thompson spoke, pointing at Enterprise. "We only have Sara and Enterprise here right now. You can't tell me, Bill, that we'll always have all our carriers around Pearl. Or that even if we do, they can't be snuck past. Or sneak attacked."
"You really think they'll hit Pearl, James?" Halsey replied, seemingly ignoring what the younger Admiral had said. Instead, the square-faced man got to his feet, walking over to the porthole overlooking the harbor. Halsey remained silent as he did so, doing nothing but looking out the window.
"Admiral?" Enterprise, at least, was confused by this. She looked torn between going to Halsey's side, and staying where she was.
"You know, I would have thought the Japs would hit the Philippines or the Dutch first. That's what all our plans are built around." The older Admiral finally spoke, not turning from the window. "Hell, it's what
I'd do in their shoes. Hit hard and fast, take what you need. I can sure as hell tell you that MacArthur aside, you won't find a man off the street who wants to fight a war over the
Philippines."
"I don't blame them." Thompson sighed, even as he spoke those words. Because...
Well, actually I do
but got to act the part.
He couldn't say what he really felt. Leaving East Asia to the Japanese was far from a good thing. He knew that. But it was just
him. No one else in the American leadership would or could. And the average Joe on the street? What real reason would they have to care about a bunch of islands halfway across the world, when Germany was rampaging through Europe? Hell, he even understood why they felt how they did!
But that didn't mean he
liked it. Thompson sighed again, clenching his fist under the table. Sometimes, he really did hate being in the time he was in.
"But, on the other hand, Taranto," the Admiral tapped at the paper still sitting on the desk. "The Japanese aren't fools. They'll know an attack on a defended port is possible. If they could cripple our navy at dock like the Brits did to the Italians..."
Halsey grunted, "Yeah, I do see what you mean James. I think it's a damn fool move of them, but then, anyone can make a fool of themselves. So, what do you expect to
do about it?"
Thompson blinked slowly at that question, as Halsey finally turned around. The older man walked over to the Admiral, his footsteps echoing through the room. Not that the younger man was particularly focused on that. He gulped slightly, still hating being put on the spot by Halsey like this. It never got easy damn it.
Even so, nothing to but damn the torpedoes and go full speed ahead.
"Well..."
"Hm."
If staring down Halsey had been bad, Thompson was inclined to argue that staring Admiral Richardson down was at least a close second. He stood in front of his overall commander, with his fellow Carrier skipper beside him. They had both discussed plans long and hard before this, collaborating with both Sara and Enterprise. And now, it was up to him to put those plans into action. No pressure, right?
"I will be level with you, Admiral Thompson," Richardson continued, tapping a finger against his desk in thought. "I am well aware of how vulnerable Hawaii is to attack. I have seen the Fleet Problems, and have brought this to Washington numerous times since the move from San Diego. You do not need to convince
me of the danger."
"Sir?" Thompson blinked slowly, looking at Richardson. He didn't need to...
Wait.
Ah...right.
Richardson had been sacked from his position entirely because he kept trying to argue the point that Pearl wasn't ready to serve as the main anchorage for the Pacific Fleet. He had argued long and hard that the fleet should stay at San Diego, at least until Pearl was ready to be properly defended. Well then, that was a weight off his shoulders. Thompson resisted the urge to slump slightly in relief, as his heart felt lighter than it had in months.
"However."
And just like that his head was back up. Admiral Richardson reached up, pulling off his glasses. The elder man absently rubbed them with a cloth, though his sharp eyes never left his subordinates.
"Why are you bringing this to my attention now?"
Thompson sighed softly, placing a hand on his pocket, where the report from Taranto still rested. It wasn't much. Hadn't done any real good in the past he remembered. But it was all they had right now, and he was going to make the most of it, no matter what.
"Taranto, sir," the Admiral replied, clenching his fist on the report. "The British have proven an attack on a defended fleet base is possible, outside our own Fleet Problems. If the Japanese are paying any attention at all..."
"The sons of bitches might try the same." Halsey finished, crossing his arms over his broad chest. The bull-headed Admiral looked at Richardson with an appraising eye, judging his nominal superior carefully. "James has valid points. I still find it hard to believe they'd be stupid enough to attack American land first, but if they
do, we need to be ready to give them a licking they'll never forget."
"Hm," all Admiral Richardson did in response was put his glasses back on, and walk around his desk. His footsteps were heavy, the measured steps of a man confident in his position. Not a man who was going to hold back on anything. "I told you both already, you do not need to convince
me. I have been saying this from the day we moved to Pearl, and will continue as long as I am in a position to do so. I have made studying the Japanese Navy my life's work, gentlemen. I daresay I understand more about them than anyone in our Navy."
It took everything Thompson had to
not counter that point. He knew more about the Japanese than even Richardson. Hell, he knew more about the Japanese than the Japanese did! His time in Japan. Talking with Akagi and Kongou. How they...his friends...no. No.
The Admiral clenched his fist again, the bite of his nails in his palm getting his mind off those memories. It wouldn't do to think about happier times, not when they were enemies now. All he could do was move forward, and try not to think about...about fighting them. At any rate, as the dull pain in his hand focused his mind on a different tack, Thompson knew he couldn't say what he did know. Richardson had indeed spent much more time and effort, and trying to counter that was pointless. And dangerous, for that matter.
It wouldn't do to get caught out knowing things I can't explain away...
"But, if we also lend our support," Thompson began, pushing the stray thoughts out of mind. At least for now. "Would that be..."
"No."
The reply was short. The tone final. Admiral Richardson shook his head, looking first at Thompson, then Halsey. And then back to the erstwhile time-traveler, who felt like he was under a microscope once again.
"You're young, James." Richardson continued, an ever so slight sigh coming from deep within his chest. The elder man placed his hands to his side, looking for all the world like a man with too much weight on his shoulders.
That was a feeling Thompson could understand. His breath caught in his throat, as he thought about that. Damn it...maybe he had more in common with his fellow Admirals than he thought.
It was something to keep in mind, at the least.
"You and Bill have long careers ahead of you. You're the best carrier men we have, and I won't see either of you sacked trying to help me. If Washington will listen, they will. If they won't, I will be the only one taking the fall. We
need men like you two on our frontline, if a war does come." Admiral Richardson shook his head, a wry smile crossing his lips. A very small smile, but one nonetheless. "Someone will have to make sure all the work you've done doesn't go to waste. I'll pull what strings I can, and get more defenses set up. That's the most I can do."
Thompson opened his mouth, ready to deny the point. He wasn't going to lose the support of the one man who could make Pearl safe. But even as the words formed, they just as quickly died in his throat. All he could do was let out a defeated sigh, aware that arguing was pointless. Never argue with a superior officer, no matter the situation, eh?
So instead of arguing, all Thompson could say was a simple, "Yes sir."
"Good," Richardson nodded back, as he walked back around his desk. The man tapped at the wood, as his eyes moved towards the door into his office, though. "Now, there is something you two can do to help me. He should be arriving momentarily."
"He?"
"Who?"
Thompson and Halsey looked at each other out of the corner of their eyes. The time-traveler had to hold back a snort, while Halsey's lip twitched. Richardson merely raised an eyebrow from behind his desk, as knocking came from the door. Loud knocking, that made Thompson flinch slightly. The room was entirely too quiet...when no one was talking.
"Permission to enter, sir?" A gruff voice spoke from behind the door, muffled only slightly by the wood.
That was the voice of an old sailor if there ever was one.
"Granted," Admiral Richardson replied shortly.
The door
creaked open, hinges squeaking as a short, grizzled man entered. His face bore several scars, and somehow managed to look even more gruff than Halsey. If anything, it was like someone had taken the stereotypical 'tough old sailor' and given it form. He was grizzled, grey hair sticking out from under a tattered cover. He wasn't particularly
buff, but there was a measure of strength in the man's confident gait nonetheless. This was a man who had been there and done that, for years.
"Commander Jackson, reporting, Admiral," the man spoke again, his voice every bit as gruff as his expression. It was a good match for Halsey, honestly. Sharp grey eyes roamed the room as he spoke, seemingly only just noticing that it was more than one Admiral, leading the man to correct his statement. "Admirals."
Richardson nodded at the man, before turning his own eyes back on Thompson and Halsey. "Commander Jackson is the chief engineer over on
Utah. Closest to an XO the old girl has. He has something quite interesting to report, I believe."
"
Utah?" Thompson echoed, confusion lacing his tone. Short-lived confusion, as his eyes widened despite every urge he had
not to show his reaction. Damn it...damn it...
Oh...shit. Did she...?
Sometime before the meeting between the Admirals, Utah walked the deck of her aging hull. The old battleship held her head high, as her heels clacked over her deck. Each step was carefully measured. Her feet paced along the old wood, a slight give in her step that was not there when she was younger. Much like the rest of her hull, her deck was aging fast. Such was the life of a target ship. At one point in time, she had been fine with this. But now?
Now, Utah felt her steps slowing. Her petite hand, unmarred by the repeat bombardments her hull was subjected to, clenched in her grey dress. The old battleship squeezed tightly, the fabric running over her fingers.
I...I sometimes wonder. Will I ever talk with anyone but Admiral Thompson or Admiral Halsey? And even then...
Even then, she was only able to talk with Admiral Halsey by virtue of Enterprise. Utah clenched her fist tighter, a spurt of anger running through her chest. The fiery feeling was quick to fade however, replaced by the empty feeling she was quite familiar with now. She couldn't stay angry at Little E. However much it pained the old battleship, to know that Enterprise had done what she had failed at.
It never got easier.
"I don't know how Arizona deals with this," Utah whispered, her voice soft as a feather. The battleship let her hand drop, as she resumed her pacing. None of her crew were on deck, small as her 'crew' was. It was merely her, and her alone. Nothing but the sound of her feet, and the activities of a major naval base. That said, even as she whispered that question, Utah had her answer. "Of course, she is perfectly fine with just Admiral Thompson."
It was enough to bring a small smile to the old battleship's face. Arizona had no idea what she was feeling, but Utah did. Oh, to be young.
Still, the smile faded just as her earlier anger. Utah truly did appreciate and value Admiral Thompson. He had done what no one had done, in her long service. Talk to her. Prove that she
could talk, and not just be a silent observer. Not even her predecessors had known that, and at one point, Utah had felt
special. Being among the first few who could talk with an Admiral.
Now?
Now, she just felt empty. Talking with people was nice. But she longed to talk with her
own crew. Prove that she could talk with more than just a special Admiral from the future...or one who loved his ship like a daughter, in the case of Admiral Halsey.
"Nothing I do works," the old girl sighed, as she came to a halt. Her old barbette...where she came, when the melancholy overwhelmed her. This had once marked her as the most powerful battleship on Earth, or so she liked to think. Now, it was just a reminder that her time was coming to a close. Her second lease on life...the life of a target ship.
It would never last forever. She knew that, and Utah honestly believed that her daughters knew as well. They never said anything, but they probably knew. It was why her failures to communicate hit her so hard. The old battleship's time was limited, and if she couldn't make a breakthrough...she may never do so.
"Love. I haven't had a commander who loved me since the Great War..."
Sighing again, Utah leaned against her barbette. Her slender legs bent underneath her, as the battleship slid down the cool metal. Her dress hardly provided much resistance, as the rough and cold object brushed her back. The chill barely impacted her though, as her stern impacted the wood of her deck. Utah pulled her legs up, wrapping her arms around the limbs. Her head was tucked into her knees, grey eyes looking out at the gentle waves lapping against her hull.
Looking, but not seeing. Her focus was internal. She barely felt her own heart beat, as she focused on her thoughts. Utah clenched her arms, trying to keep the depressing thoughts from overwhelming her, at least.
"I...I just wish
someone could hear me. It...it does not matter who. Someone...anyone...please..."
Utah felt the burning in her eyes, long before she felt the wetness. But she felt both, as hot tears formed, her shoulders shaking. She would never let anyone see this side of her. Leave alone her daughters. But here, and now? She was alone. No one could see or hear her, as he old battleship let herself go. She needed to vent her feelings, somehow. Letting her tears out was as good a way as any, right?
I'm so weak. I should be stronger than this, for my daughters. For Admiral Thompson. For myself...
"Hey, who are you?"
At first, Utah assumed she was hearing things. Her sorrow-addled mind playing tricks on her. It wouldn't be the first time.
But...
This was different. The voice she had heard...the gruff, no-nonsense tone. That was not like her imaginings. No, that was a familiar voice for a much different reason. The old girl lifted her head from her knees, tear-streaks lining her cheeks. She made no effort to wipe them, or the tears still lingering in her grey eyes. Utah, instead, looked over her legs. A familiar face stared down at her, the grizzled features of her...chief engineer. Joe Jackson.
"Miss, I'm sorry to say, but you can't stay here. This is a warship, despite...her condition." Jackson's voice, still gruff, was less biting than it normally would be. He clearly thought she was a civilian. And he was holding back because of that. But...
"You can see me?" Utah's voice cracked, hope lining each and every syllable.
I...
Jackson frowned, looking down on the battleship. His sharp eyes roamed up and down, examining her closely. Utah didn't feel uncomfortable though. There was nothing lustful in that gaze, and even if there were, she found it hard to care. He could...he could
see her!
"'Course I can Miss..." the gruff man, her XO, continued. Confusion was clear in
his tone, as the old veteran looked over the battleship. He was clearly asking who she was.
"Utah. USS Utah."
The old engineer actually flinched back slightly, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. He reached a hand out, tapping Utah's leg. Like he was testing to see if she was really there.
Of course, all it did was make Utah gasp in shock and...well...happiness. Because his finger pushed against her leg, the feeling unlike anything she had ever experienced before. Utah had walked
through her crew, sometimes. That was like ice water down her spine. Jackson's poke, on the other hand, was warmth. Warmth unlike anything she had felt. Was this why Arizona was so happy to hug Admiral Thompson?
"Hm. You aren't any ghost, I can say that much," Jackson frowned deeply, the expression tugging on his scars and making him appear more formidable than usual. "'else I wouldn't be able to touch you. But...
Utah?"
"I'm not lying, sir. I can tell you anything you need to convince you. Ask me any question you want!"
Utah was aware she was babbling. Her normally calm and motherly tone was gone, replaced by the excitable girl she once was, so many years ago. And could she be blamed for that? She was
talking with her XO. Not Admiral Thompson. Not Admiral Halsey. Her
own crewmember!
"Hm. I'll hold ya to that," Jackson didn't dismiss her out of hand, as he continued to examine the old battleship carefully. He tapped his chin, attentive eyes locking on to Utah's own grey. "I heard the rumors from 'ole Johnny. Didn't think he was telling the truth, when he said Halsey ordered around the ghost of Big E. But...maybe there was some truth there. Prove it to me."
A smile crossed the battleship's face, as she set about doing just that. She hadn't made the breakthrough herself. It had been pure chance.
But she was
talking with her XO, and that was all that mattered to her.
