That person would have to be an orphan then otherwise any family left behind when the defection was found out would suffer.
Changing Destiny (Kancolle)
- Thread starter Skywalker_T-65
- Start date
Genolution
Hello there
- Location
- [DATA EXPUNGED]
Add in the fact that with the right contact, you could get the Abwehr to do beneficial feet stomoing on behalf of the Allies.
- Location
- In the depts of despair.
Frankly if someone wanted to leave Japan they would have better luck doing it officially. Get some diplomatic papers as an attache, use an excuse to visit Mexico, Panama or any other neutral country that might be used to get intel on the US, from there go to an american embassy with a suitcase full of documents you can use to negociate your safe pass.
Once you're in the States you can tell them about some operations in your area of influence such as the some of the future offensives in China or plans for Truk and Rabaul. From there overhearing about some wargames about a theorical raid on Pearl by some carriers will be feasible.
Once you're in the States you can tell them about some operations in your area of influence such as the some of the future offensives in China or plans for Truk and Rabaul. From there overhearing about some wargames about a theorical raid on Pearl by some carriers will be feasible.
- Location
- Philippines
My body is ready for your take on our favorite British-born returnee.
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Old Iron
Admiral Unfun
- Location
- The Southwestern Deadlands of America
Arpeggio Kongou is... actually about what I'd imagine IJN Kongou to be like, personality-wise. But that remains to be seen.My body is ready for your take on our favorite British-born returnee.
Of course, this will ultimately end up with three to four versions of Kongou all in one timeline and all in one place simply for the madness of it. And that place will probably be on Ari or Sara's deck, for optimal Thompson suffering.
All the while Little E and Kaga settle their differences with a game of Battleship, but only because there's no game called Fleet Carrier.
- Location
- In the depts of despair.
Scary but pausible.
This are ships at the height of the indoctrination of the japanese people. They were the symbols of the japanese modernity and power and the tools to accomplish their ambitions of conquest in Asia. And while I'm not too familiar with the personality of Arpeggio's Kongo I would assume that she's from the time before the Washington and London's naval teatries when the japanese were quite smitten with the professionalism and tactics of the Royal Navy, so I expect her to be a dignified and flematic professional with deep and rational nationalism unlike the more fanatic warships laid down after Japan abandoned the treaties and did its best to create monsters such as the Yamato class in order to outdo the US and England.
This are ships at the height of the indoctrination of the japanese people. They were the symbols of the japanese modernity and power and the tools to accomplish their ambitions of conquest in Asia. And while I'm not too familiar with the personality of Arpeggio's Kongo I would assume that she's from the time before the Washington and London's naval teatries when the japanese were quite smitten with the professionalism and tactics of the Royal Navy, so I expect her to be a dignified and flematic professional with deep and rational nationalism unlike the more fanatic warships laid down after Japan abandoned the treaties and did its best to create monsters such as the Yamato class in order to outdo the US and England.
I'm interested in in Pennsylvania's personality Aka Old Falling Apart .
Considering she was in drydock when her sister died how different is she now compared to the one he knew?
Considering she was in drydock when her sister died how different is she now compared to the one he knew?
Given the era, I think it's more likely that it would be a Shoukaku-class ship competing with Little E -- probably Zuikaku -- as they are still trying to prove themselves next to their seniors. Even during the first year of the war, CarDiv5 was considered much junior to CarDiv1 and CarDiv2.
That's one slice of heartbreak I shudder to think about.
obssesednuker
Commander of 10 Million Men
- Location
- In the Kremlin, activating Perimtr.
I kinda have the head canon that Kaga was glad for Pearl Harbor because she finally was attacking a target of military value, very different from strafing hapless Chinese refugee columns. Of course, a guilty concious is a part of it...
Dirtnap
Kanmusu Affecionado
I don't think so, given that more than a few of the aircrews that managed to survive til the end said they felt it was a dishonorable attack.
obssesednuker
Commander of 10 Million Men
- Location
- In the Kremlin, activating Perimtr.
Post-facto reaction.
Agreed. Also, don't forget that Japan had long wanted to lash out at the Western powers in the region -- especially USA, UK, and Dutch. On top of this, the many grievances (real or imagined) Japan had towards the USA.
--edit--
It's much like how much of the IJN was mad about the London and Washington treaties, as they placed artificial limitations on their navy and made it smaller than the UK and USA navies, but in hindsight (and realized by a few in the higher echelons of the IJN), it was the best way to limit the size of the USN and turned out to be the best protection Japan could hope for at the time.
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- Location
- Australia
Once the USN fully ignored the the WNT, LNT and the SNLT.....
Japan knew they were screwed. Of course the militarists did not know that.
Well... Japan and Italy withdrew first... so they brought it on themselves. So really, the USA never "ignored" the treaties, as by then, the most belligerent of the nations had already left it.
Genolution
Hello there
- Location
- [DATA EXPUNGED]
They only started ignoring it omce the shooting started, long after the IJN withdrew. The 16 inch guns on the NorCars were covered under the escalator clause of the SLNT.
- Location
- Australia
According to IJN logic, the treaty basically limited USN expansion, so via pulling out of the WNT and the LNT the IJN could in theory build more ships to counter the USN.
Of course this didnt work as many of their ships were either low quality or built in a rush.
Well the USN respected all three Naval treaties right up until December 7, 1941, so Japan still had some false hope of scaring the USN into submission.
Dirtnap
Kanmusu Affecionado
not...really? The Atagos/Mogamis/Aganos were pretty well built for their time. The Fubukis were literally light years ahead of anything being fielded by anyone else when they were introduced.
The main issue is that Japan couldn't build enough of them because their industrial capacity is shit. The Army/Navy split also didn't help things.
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I think Genolution and I were more commenting about your use of the word "ignore" in describing the US's action towards the treaties. It was more that the treaties were basically null and void that the US started their massive expansion project.
But yeah... by and large, I think we're all on the same page.
Chapter 21
Skywalker_T-65
Writer with too many ideas.
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- Plural/They/He/Her
This chapter marks the end of Arc 1 of the story.
Chapter 21:
I'm leaving...will Admiral Thompson still be here when I come back?
Arizona ran a hand through her short red hair, the battleship sighing deeply. It had been a long time since she had actually seen the Admiral. Ever since he started working with Admiral Halsey, Thompson had not come to her. He'd talk over the radio, sure. But not come in person. Intellectually, Ari even understood why that was the case. If he came to her, he needed an excuse, since she wasn't directly under his command. Or even affiliated with his command. And since Admiral Willson didn't really like Admiral Thompson...
Well.
She could see the problem, however much she certainly didn't like it.
"Final reports are in, Admiral."
The battleship turned her head at that voice, though she recognized it easily enough. Her Captain...come to talk to her Admiral. Ari's brown eyes watched the men, even as she spun on her heel. Her feet carried her away from the windows of her bridge, and towards the two men. She ducked around members of her crew, her blue skirt fluttering by her hips. Ari's jacket, loose as it always was, actually slapped one of her crew in the face.
But the man didn't react, as it phased through him.
I guess none of them really do care enough about me.
Ari couldn't help but sigh again at that. After all...she was the one. The only one who had made no progress in getting through to her crew, despite knowing from the start. Not one of her crew really cared enough about her, did they? Her Admiral certainly wasn't attached to her. Was that why she couldn't get through?
That it may be her not caring enough about her crew never occurred to her.
"Good, good," Admiral Willson's voice got the battleship's attention back, as his eyes scanned over the stack of paper the Captain had handed him. "Delay or no, we should be ready to return to the mainland soon."
"Indeed." The younger man nodded, his own eyes trailing over the crew, before settling on where Arizona stood.
But his eyes looked right through her.
"They still can't see me..." Ari frowned, looking at her Captain, even if he couldn't look at her. "I wonder if they ever will?"
Her question went unanswered, the Captain turning his head back to her Admiral, "Much as I don't agree with the notion that battleships should be second-line combatants, I do agree that we need this refit sir. The old girl doesn't have enough defenses."
"Not at all. That is why I made the suggestions to improve her anti-aircraft armaments." Willson agreed, placing the papers down before looking at the Captain. "This will not be a short refit."
"No it won't, sir." Her Captain nodded in response.
Willson returned the nod, placing a hand on the younger man's shoulder, "I'm afraid to say you'll probably be reassigned elsewhere during the refit. I may well be reassigned as well...I know there have been rumbles from back home about Admiral Kidd."
There was silence after that, the two men seemingly deep in thought. Not that Ari noticed, honestly. Her mind had just kicked into...high-gear, Admiral Thompson had called it. A new Admiral? A...new Admiral. One who may actually listen to her? The thought was tantalizing. She would never replace Thompson. Of course not, the man was...well, she wasn't sure what he was actually.
Other than that he meant more to her than anyone else, and that strange dream...well. She wouldn't replace him!
But on the other hand, Enterprise. Utah. Both of them had gotten through, and she couldn't. Much as Ari preferred talking to Admiral Thompson over any of the other Admirals- though Admiral Halsey was...interesting...to talk to -the idea had bitten her. She could have...have her own Admiral to talk to. She wouldn't have to steal Thompson away from Sara. Even though the thought that she was doing so had the battleship clenching a hand over her heart...
No, no. He likes talking to me too!
Squeezing again, Ari nodded sharply. Her brown eyes weren't wet, as she turned over the name of her potential new Admiral. Kidd...there was something about that name.
But what?
"At any rate," Admiral Willson's voice broke Arizona from her thoughts, the man picking his papers back up and moving to leave the bridge. His sure footsteps echoed over the sound of her crew preparing for departure, as the man spoke over his shoulder. His deep voice held no hesitation at all, at that. "I want us ready to leave within the hour. Understood, Captain?"
"Crystal, sir." The younger man nodded back, looking out at the rest of the bridge crew. "You heard the Admiral!"
"Yes sir!" A chorus of voices answered, as men set to their tasks. A pair split off and ran through Ari on their way to check on the rest of the crew, making the battleship shiver.
She tried to avoid walking through her crew, for exactly that reason.
Shaking her head, if only to get rid of the cold feeling, Arizona turned to follow her Admiral out of the bridge. There wasn't much good she could do there anyway, really. And as her booted feet trailed after Willson, she knew that there was one good thing she could do. Figure out what her Admiral had meant by the idea he could get reassigned. And...well. Ari frowned slightly, still feeling slightly...dirty for doing this.
Reporting on what her Admiral said. It felt like spying on him, and she didn't really like that. In fact, it made her sigh softly in resignation.
Because, in all honesty?
Ari would do it. Over and over again. No matter how many times it was asked of her. Because she trusted Admiral Thompson, and Admiral Halsey. She trusted them, and believed the former when he said that War was coming, and they needed to be as prepared as possible. And that meant that the battleships weren't the focus anymore. She wasn't.
It...it hurt sometimes, though she didn't show it. Besides, she was proud of the younger girls getting a chance to prove what they could do! The carriers deserved a chance to shine. Right?
Right...well, no point in thinking about that! I want to help Admiral Thompson, and if I can't do that in combat, I want to at least do it here. If Admiral Willson can't hear me, maybe Admiral Kidd can?
She had a feeling from somewhere- though God only knew where -that the man could. And so, biting her lip, Ari sped up her footsteps slightly. Brown eyes followed Admiral Willson into his office, the battleship ducking her way in behind him, before he could shut the door. If the Admiral had any idea she was there, he certainly didn't show it, wearily sitting down at his desk to look through the papers.
"All stations are ready for departure, and command responsibilities are set to transfer to Pennsylvania upon departure." Willson muttered, leafing through the paper. "Good, good. Captain Johnson know's what he's doing."
For her part, Arizona felt her lips twitch up into a happy smile. Her big sis always complained about Ari being the designated flagship when they served together. Sure, being torn away for refits was hardly fun, but at least her sister would be happy!
"Now...to prepare for Admiral Kidd." The Admiral's voice lowered as he said that, dropping almost to a whisper. At least, a whisper until he started coughing heavily. Willson brought a hand to his mouth, heavy coughs wracking his body.
And just like that, Ari's smile vanished. The battleship rushed to her Admiral's side, worried eyes looking over the older man. Her hands anxiously rubbed together, the battleship resisting the urge to reach out and try to help the man. She knew she wouldn't be doing any good. But as her heart twisted in her chest, Ari still felt bad about it.
She, and her Admiral, weren't attached enough to speak. But that didn't mean she enjoyed seeing him clearly in pain.
"Damn it," Willson finally ground out past his cough, dropping his hand. A weary grimace had replaced the previously stoic expression on his face, as the man leaned back in his chair. His chest rose and fell sharply, the Admiral pale while he looked up at the ceiling of his cabin. His voice was cracked when he began speaking again, holding a hand to his forehead, "It's getting worse every day. Too much stress."
"Stress?" Arizona's voice was filled with worry, her hands continuing to wring themselves, if only to resist the urge to grab the man. And figure out what was wrong with him.
He hadn't been sick before. Or had he been, and she just didn't notice? Because she wasn't really trying to connect any longer?
"Thompson is going to run us all into the ground with these schemes of his," Willson, of course, made no sign he heard a single word from the battleship. "I'll be the first to admit carriers are needed, but the way he pushes..."
The old man sighed, dropping his hand. His breaths were still short, but the man reached out for a pen and a fresh piece of paper. His still-sharp eyes ran over the words he wrote down, muttering low enough that even Ari didn't hear what he said.
"...there. I won't ruin his career over this. But I will warn the others to watch him." Willson's voice didn't carry any malice. Any anger. Or really, any negative connotations at all. Just weariness, as he capped the pen and got to his feet. The man stumbled over to his bunk, falling down against it. His head leaned back once more, a heavy sigh rumbling from his chest. "That man is going to get himself removed if he doesn't stop. And we need men like him, willing to stand up for their ideas even if they're wrong. I won't be here to stop him, not any more."
And with that, the man fell back, clearly spent. Ari watched him to make sure he was okay, and only when she was satisfied that Admiral Willson was...if not okay, at least alright, did she turn away. Her hand reached up to her short red hair, careful to not dislodge her cap. She had to...
She had to let Admiral Thompson know about this.
"What do you mean Admiral Willson is..."
Thompson blinked slowly, as he looked at Saratoga. The blue-haired carrier shrugged back helplessly, her own confusion clear on her face.
The pair had been working, ever since Thompson's spurt of energy, on figuring out how to help Utah. Failing that, how to help the other girls like Cali or Honolulu. Or some of the other cruisers in the harbor. Regardless, they had been hard at work on putting the various theories and ideas the group had come up with into action. Thompson himself had been quite insistent on looking at each and every idea in detail, and talking with Enterprise about them.
Arizona suddenly calling in a panic had not been something expected.
At all.
"I don't know Admiral. He was fine before, but now he's sick. He says the stress is getting to him but I don't know...I..." Ari's voice was quite a bit more worried than her usual, cheerful, tone now. So much so, that Thompson felt the sudden urge to go over and give the poor girl a hug.
But since he couldn't do that...
"Well, stress can get to anyone. If he was already not in top shape..." Thompson frowned, remembering his own father. The man ran himself into the ground, but... "I'm sorry though Ari. I just don'tknow what may be wrong with him. I didn't even know he would be in command of you, when I came back. I expected Admiral Kidd."
"Admiral Kidd?"
Just like that, the panicked tone was, if not gone...at least lessened. Instead, there was curiosity, the type he was much more used to hearing from this Ari. It still made Thompson frown slightly though.
"Yes, Admiral Kidd. Do you know him? I'll admit I don't know if he's served on you before but..." Thompson trailed off, once more cursing his relative lack of knowledge. He was no historian, not really. He knew the major things of course, and some more specific dates and such from his talks with the girls in the future.
But he didn't know stuff like Admiral Willson, or if Isacc Kidd ever served on Arizona before he became her Admiral.
"No, I don't think so. But the name sounded familiar..." Ari's voice was thoughtful now, and Thompson could easily imagine her scrunching her nose up in thought. Probably tapping her chin too."Admiral Willson said he may end up as my new Admiral, after my refit. Do you know why?"
Thompson turned his head to look at Sara, shrugging helplessly. His closest friend just smiled, her own shoulders moving up. She wasn't going to be able to help him here, knowing even less than he did.
"Honestly, I don't know Ari." Thompson sighed, running a hand through his short hair. It was a nervous tick, but the situation kinda justified it. In his mind at least. "I don't know why Admiral Kidd got assigned to you in the first place, probably just a routine change of command. Why it's happening now is something I can't say. Maybe Admiral Willson is sicker than he looks?"
There was silence at that, and honestly, the time-traveler could hardly blame Ari for that. He knew she hadn't been able to make contact yet of course. Oddly, Arizona was the only one of the 'original group' who had yet to make any progress. Thompson hadn't the slightest idea why of course. Hell, he scratched his head in confusion on more than one occasion. Ari was such a ball of sunshine, she shouldn't have any issues talking to anyone. Hadn't ever had any issues talking with him, that's for sure.
But when he brought it up to Sara, the carrier just giggled.
Ah well, something to worry about later. For now...
He understood why Ari had gone silent. For all that she hadn't made contact yet. Because every single one of these girls, in the future or the pas...present...acted the same. They all cared very deeply for those they called Admiral. Aside from a handful of exceptions like Akebono.
And if Ari was anything like the rest...
"I'm worried he is. What if he doesn't make it back home?" Ari's voice was completely subdued now, the battleship likely slumping her shoulders. It was...it was like the Ari he remembered.
And Thompson had sworn, when he first met this Ari, that he never wanted to see that girl again. She was one who was special in her own way, but he far preferred the cheery Arizona he had come to know in this time in the past.
"Don't worry Ari. I'm sure he'll be fine," Thompson could hardly promise that of course. He hung his head at the lie, in fact, though Sara at least put a hand on his shoulder to steady him. With medical technology what it was at the time... "Besides, I'm sure you'll like Admiral Kidd too. From everything I remember, he cared about you just about as much as Halsey cared...cares...about Enterprise."
"Really?" The hopeful tone was back in Arizona's voice, and it brought a smile to Thompson's face.
"Really." His own voice was sure and steady, as he smiled at Sara.
Who smiled back, even as she spoke up for the first time, "Don't worry Ari. We'll hold down the fort here until you get back, and I'm certain your Admiral will be okay in the end. Right?"
"Right!" The happy tone that Thompson was so fond of was back in the battleship's voice. Even if a little lingering darkness remained.
But the conversation would be cut short before anyone could say anything else. Cut short, in fact, by knocking on the Admiral's door.
Who could that be?
Thompson raised an eyebrow at Sara, before getting to his feet. He walked over to the door, tugging it open. A junior member of his bridge crew- an Ensign, in point of fact -stood in front of him. The young man stiffened on instinct, nodding at the Admiral. Thompson nodded himself, green eyes looking the young man up and down. He didn't seem panicked. So it wasn't something bad. In theory.
"Admiral Thompson, sir," the Ensign began speaking, his voice admirably stoic and professional.
"Yes?" Thompson replied shortly however. He wasn't really eager to deal with a crisis right now, or something like that.
"Admiral Richardson is requesting permission to board and speak with you, sir."
And that answered that question. But brought up another one. One that had Thompson sweating inside, though he remained calm and unruffled on the outside. A sharp nod, in fact, was directed at the Ensign. "He has permission. Send an escort to my cabin, if you will."
"Yes sir!" The Ensign spun on his heel, marching off to gather a Marine or two.
And for his part, Thompson just turned around, and walked back into his cabin. This was...well, either it was going to push his plans forward...
Or it would end them all.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
"Admiral Thompson."
"Admiral Richardson."
Some time later, the two Admirals stood together in Thompson's cabin. Both men were staring at the other, though Richardson was far better off than the younger man. In point of fact, Thompson was sweating on the outside as well now. Everything...everything he had worked so hard for, came down to this moment. Richardson would only have come to Sara herself, if he either had seen Utah...
...or was convinced that Thompson and Halsey were completely insane.
"And you, I assume, are Saratoga?" But the next words out of Richardson's mouth had the time-traveler deflating in relief.
For the elder man had turned his bespectacled gaze over to Sara, instead of her Admiral. And on her end, Sara flushed bright red, but nodded. A happy smile had crossed her face in fact, as the carrier brushed blue hair from her eyes.
"How did you know?" She asked curiously, green eyes following Richardson.
Who just smiled, and pointed at his head, "Utah may look young for her hair color, but at least it is a natural shade."
Sara's flush grew deeper, "Right, my hair. Admiral Thompson never commented on it so..."
At that statement, Richardson turned his gaze back on the younger Admiral, who sighed. Leave it to one of the ship girls to say something like that. Oh well, Sara meant no harm by it, and he at least had the excuse that...
"I have the spirit of my ship in front of me," Thompson shrugged, doing his best to cover his worry. "Her hair was the last thing on my mind."
Reasonable excuse that one, at least it seemed like Richardson thought so. The elder man just nodded, before moving to look at the papers scattered around Thompson's desk and bunk. His eyebrow remained firmly fixed in the 'up' position as he did so, sharp eyes reading so fast that Thompson wondered if he was just skimming. In point of fact, he probably was.
But then...
He only needed to skim, to see what those papers were. All related to how to get the girls visible, not one of his 'time traveler' bits exposed. Thompson was harried, not an idiot. Leaving something like that where the other Admiral could see?
Yeah, no.
Leaving out the other papers though? That had been intentional. To show just how much work he had made into making the girls visible, so if Richardson had indeed believed him...it would be clear he was trying to work with what he had. And if Richardson hadn't believed him, so the man could at least have something to work with to try again...with, or without, Thompson actually there to help.
"Understandable," Admiral Richardson finally spoke up again, turning back to his younger subordinate. His eyes narrowed slightly when he continued speaking, "But I have to wonder. How long have you been able to see Saratoga, and more importantly, how long have you been using these papers?"
"Since I started serving aboard her, Admiral," not technically a lie that. Thompson, in point of fact, had been able to see Sara since he started serving on her. Just...not since he was assigned to her in the past. "And I've been hoping that I could get more of the girls talking with their crews. I admit, I didn't like going behind your back like this."
"Nor should you have," Richardson's voice was chiding, in the way only an Admiral could do.
Flushing despite himself, Thompson nodded jerkily, "I know. But I wanted to have as many girls available as possible, since the more people..."
Richardson held up a hand, cutting the younger man off. He reached up and pulled his glasses off, wiping them as he regularly did. Thompson still didn't know if they needed cleaning, or if it was a habit meant to put him off guard. If the latter, it worked, since it exposed Richardson's sharp gaze completely. The man held that gaze, not once looking away, even when he put his glasses back on his nose.
No, he didn't turn away at all.
"That is why I am here, Admiral." Richardson finally spoke up again. His voice was flat and entirely devoid of any humor now. The Admiral brought a hand down on Thompson's desk, sharply. The ring of fist slapping against wood made the younger man wince, while Richardson just continued speaking, "I can hardly deny what I've seen. No, between Utah lifting Commander Jackson when I still could not see her, and Saratoga's hair? No. These girls are by no means normal. And, that means one simple fact."
"Sir?" Thompson felt a drop of sweat roll down his face. He almost certainly knew what was going to be said...Halsey had said the exact same, after all.
"This is above all of our heads, son." Richardson didn't disappoint, turning his gaze to Sara once more. His voice softened, if only slightly, when he looked at the carrier. "The implications..."
The elder Admiral sighed heavily, returning his attention to Thompson. His shoulders slumped, ever so slightly. Richardson looked...looked like an old man, out of his depth.
"Every time we build and launch a ship, we're creating a new life. Every single ship ever built has one of these girls, I assume. And that means every time we design and build a warship, we're bringing new life into the world." Richardson's voice lowered further, an ever so slight undercurrent of pain in it. His hand clenched against Thompson's desk, creaking wood echoing in the silent cabin. "And every time we sink a ship, be that in combat or in testing, we kill her. Every time we scrap one, we kill her. Do you have any idea what this will mean, when the news gets out?"
In point of fact...
"Yes, sir."
Thompson knew better than anyone. He still remembered what had happened, when ship girls first became a thing, in his past. Future. Whatever it was.
The words 'political shitstorm' were probably doing it a favor, in all honesty. Media, politicians, religious figures...everyone and their grandmother had an opinion on their new saviors. Angels some said. Others were up in arms at the idea that ships could possibly have a soul, and what that implied for everything else...human and otherwise. Yet further people started protesting at the idea that every time a ship was sunk or scrapped, an innocent life was lost.
Frankly, he expected it to be even worse when this news got out. Now that it was completely confirmed that, yes, these girls were always there? And furthermore, that they were alive? Not to mention that, even without the internet to fan the flames, he was in the 1940s. Thompson could only guess at how the beliefs of the day were going to be torn to shreds by this.
Even so...
"I can't just keep it a secret though, Admiral," Thompson continued with a small sigh. His own hands clenched by his side, as the man sent a look at Sara. The carrier, his best friend, gave him a supporting smile in return. Sending his own smile back, Thompson squared his shoulders and turned back to Richardson. "Even if I wanted to, I won't do that to these girls. All of them are so excited at the idea of being able to talk with someone...I can't take that from them."
Richardson just smiled, if only slightly, "I would be the first to agree with you, Admiral. However, the point remains."
The man picked up the paper again, waving it in Thompson's face. Richardson's own developed a fierce scowl, the man returning to his serious stance.
"We will need to use what you've developed. Convince enough people that what we are seeing is real, and then immediately bring this to Washington. Saratoga is schedule to go in for refit in January. You have until then to break through with enough ships and sailors to convince others who have no attachment..."
Richardson's eyes narrowed, as he set the paper down.
"Because you and I will be going to Washington with this."
...
...
...
...
...
Hamburg, Germany, December 10th 1940
"What are we doing here, I wonder...?"
German battleship Bismarck, first of her class and indeed the first proper battleship built by German hands in decades, sat upon her deck. Her pale legs, only marginally covered by her long socks, stretched out over the side of her hull. Cold seawater brushed against both her limbs and hull, but she hardly noticed. No, all of Bismarck's attention was on the pier she was tied up alongside. And, indeed, on Blücher, tied up further along the dock.
She was in Hamburg to finish her fitting out. Bismarck knew that. But there was something else, and she wasn't sure what. Captain Lindemann had been quite silent on that fact, ever since they had returned. Not that the man could see her of course...
But still.
I am curious, about why he's acting that way. Herr Lindemann is a good Captain. But it is not like him to act like this, so why...
Bismarck let out a sigh, looking back at the pier. The only explanation she had was that they were waiting on someone. Perhaps even the Führer, come to visit her again. If that were the case, the battleship couldn't say she really looked forward to it. Her memories of the last she had seen the man were hardly fond ones.
The little man had no respect for the Navy, however he crooned about his 'most powerful battleship in the world'.
She could see that in the way he carried himself, and how he insisted on that strange salute instead of the proper salute she had seen done by older members of her crew. The one, she could only assume, came from her elder cousins in the old Kaiserliche Marine.
...
...
Yes, she may be biased. But Bismarck held no real attachment to the leader of her nation. She served Germany, not any one man. Her namesake had taught her that much, from what little she knew of the Iron Chancellor.
"Captain, is everything ready?"
Bismarck's attention was torn from her morose thoughts, and directed to her hull. The battleship pulled herself fully aboard, smoothing down her long grey jacket. At times, she almost wished she had a skirt...but then, no one could see her anyway, so did it matter?
Pushing that aside as irrelevant, the battleship's ice blue eyes- colder than the brisk sea breeze -focused instead on her Captain. The handsome Lindemann had walked out of her superstructure, a thick overcoat covering his usual uniform. Sharp eyes scanned over her hull, locking eventually on her gangplank. Bismarck followed that gaze, curiosity coming to her heart.
So they were waiting for someone then.
"Everything is ready," Lindemann's own deep voice spoke up, as the man walked to her gangplank, totally ignoring the battleship herself.
Not that she expected anything else.
"Ready for what, though?" Bismarck voiced her thoughts, even though she knew it wouldn't be answered.
And indeed, wasn't. At least, not directly.
"This is unusual, I will admit," Lindemann turned his head, looking at the younger man by his side. Her XO, Hans Oels, returned the look as Lindemann continued speaking, "An Admiral does not normally come aboard a vessel that has yet to finish fitting out. Still, if this is his choice, we will abide by it and make certain he is ready."
"She," Bismarck tiredly replied on instinct.
"Well, I'm certain we are ready," Oels also made no sign he heard the battleship, pulling down his uniform cap slightly.
Lindemann nodded, "Indeed. Now, here he comes I believe."
Turning her head away from her officers, Bismarck began to tap her foot against her deck. Her boot stomped down swiftly and repeatedly, each step echoing over the sounds of a busy harbor. Bismarck hardly noticed though, blue eyes entirely focused on the man coming up onto her hull.
A man who, honestly, was not what she expected.
He...
Where Captain Lindemann was tall and handsome, carrying the rugged edge of a Kriegsmarine Captain well, her Admiral was average height at best. A man with sharp features, lined by age. He had to be at least a decade older than her already aged Captain. That age was reflected well in his eyes too, a dark blue quite unlike her own. And unlike her cold eyes, the Admiral's were...were aged. Even more than his lined face, his eyes reflected a man who had seen much, and lived through hardship. Hardship that had turned his short hair slate grey under his cap. Hardship that had not bowed his shoulders, even as age worked on his body.
This was no ordinary man.
"Welcome aboard, Admiral Schreiber," Captain Lindemann saluted in the old-style, a salute returned by the older man.
"Thank you, Captain Lindemann," Schreiber's voice was rough as his features, not a hint of levity. "I see you have taken good care of Bismarck."
"Of course sir." Lindemann was quick to nod, a small smile crossing his face. "We have tested her and done what we can to make certain we're ready for combat. Though, I understand after the sinking of Gneisenau, we aren't likely to head to sea until the Führer is convinced we're ready."
Schreiber's mouth cracked a slight smile, "You would be correct, Captain. To that subject, I expect to be shown a full tour and meet my crew. First, however, I must drop off my luggage. If you would kindly show me to my cabin?"
"Right this way sir!"
As the men began walking into her superstructure, Bismarck shook herself. For all that Admiral Schreiber had been focused on Captain Lindemann, she...she felt like he wasn't really focused on the Captain. No, it was almost like...almost like...
Like he saw me.
She knew it was crazy. No one could ever see her. But Bismarck couldn't quite shake the feeling, that the Admiral's deep blue eyes had looked over her. And not her hull. No, it almost seemed like they had locked onto her. Which should be impossible. So why did she feel that way?
So deep in this thought was she, that Bismarck only tangentially followed her Captain as they walked towards the as-yet unused Admiral's Quarters. She only barely noticed her Captain and XO bidding the Admiral goodbyes, before moving to gather her officers. Bismarck didn't shake herself from her thoughts, until she heard a light cough. A cough that had her flinching.
The strongest battleship in Europe, flinching.
Wide blue eyes turned from her hull, to her Admiral. Meeting darker blue, as Schreiber's aged features twisted into a full, genuine smile.
"Hello, Bismarck. It's been far too long since I last saw you."
And there we are.
Arc 1 was getting the girls to see their crews. That's why I ended it, when Richardson was convinced...because continuing that plot would just be a bunch of chapters of 'girl convinces member of crew in new way'. Repetitive after a while.
Any particular girls that are important, will be touched on in Arc 2 though. Which, well...
Will be rather more political in nature. Though I fully intend to keep the girls around, especially Enterprise since her and Halsey are too fun to work with.
Also, hello Bismarck.
Arc 1 was getting the girls to see their crews. That's why I ended it, when Richardson was convinced...because continuing that plot would just be a bunch of chapters of 'girl convinces member of crew in new way'. Repetitive after a while.
Any particular girls that are important, will be touched on in Arc 2 though. Which, well...
Will be rather more political in nature. Though I fully intend to keep the girls around, especially Enterprise since her and Halsey are too fun to work with.
Also, hello Bismarck.
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jwolfe_beta
Semi Genre-Savvy Overlord
- Location
- Canada
OK we just got confirmations of more than one time-traveling Admiral. Things are going to get sticky as 10 to 1 there is a Japanese Kanmusu experianced Admiral in this era as well.
This is going beyond butterflies and hitting Mothra flapping her wings.
This is going beyond butterflies and hitting Mothra flapping her wings.
Skywalker_T-65
Writer with too many ideas.
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- Plural/They/He/Her
Also, on a totally unrelated note-that-Sky-forgot-to-put-in-chapter:
This is what I meant with Richardson and Utah. Delaware and Utah are very similar ships, for the most part.
This is what I meant with Richardson and Utah. Delaware and Utah are very similar ships, for the most part.
Dalek Ix
Verified Dalek
Oh boy, oh boy, oh dear.