[x] Tell Iowa and the rest of the division your idea.
You could stay quiet. Iowa would probably like that... but you can't! If your idea can save all of you, then you have to speak up!
"Everyone," you call out, drawing their attention, and in Iowa's case, ire, "Midway is close enough that if we make a run for it, we can reach it before the Abyssal's planes get here!"
"You want us to beach ourselves?" Iowa gives you an incredulous glare, "Are you an idiot? We won't be able to maneuver, and those dive bombers will be all over us!"
"...Maybe so," Atlanta interjects, eyes on the horizon, "but the Abyssals won't be able to send torpedo bombers at us if we do so. Sinking won't be as much of an issue, Iowa."
"I don't fancy making myself a sitting duck," your flagship shakes her head, "We're pretty damn maneuverable, just dodge incoming torpedoes. I'm the slowest to turn out of you all, I should be the most concerned, but I have faith that we can pull through!"
"If we really move, we can get there soon enough to hide!" you argue worriedly, "Please, Iowa! We don't know the enemy's composition. For all we know, an entire fleet's worth of carriers could be about to launch their planes at us! We don't have a hope of fending off that many planes if that's the case!"
"We'll know the attacking force's makeup long before we see them," Iowa gestures to her radar, "I'm not concerned."
"Even so," you insist, "Shouldn't we at least try to move towards Midway in case someone gets hit and begins flooding? Then anyone who's injured can beach themselves so that we can effect repairs!"
"Midway is a desolate rock," Iowa scoffs, "It has been since the Abyssals took it over, and it still is even after the Jap Ship Girls bombed it into oblivion. We end up there, we'll just be stranding ourselves! You think little Mahan has enough fuel to afford that detour? We're already going to be towing her the last legs of this trip!"
Mahan looks conflicted. She doesn't want to be stuck out here when the Abyssals strike, but she knows her own capabilities...
"Argue if you want," Independence suddenly states calmly, loading a clip of yellow bullets into her rifle, "But I'm going to prepare for battle. Midway or the ocean, we're going to fight."
She begins launching flights of F2A Buffalos while you and Iowa stare each other down.
"We aren't moving," Iowa answers with finality, "That is my order to all of you. Prepare for combat. We will repel the enemy as they come, without changing course. We stop for no one."
"This is a mistake," you finish, "I wish for my protest to be noted."
"It shall be," Fairies begin running all over Iowa's rigging, activating her AAA guns, "And you'll look like a fool once we drive these bastards off."
Cleveland and Iowa's scout planes roar into the air. Cleveland trains her guns on the horizon, loaded with flak shells no doubt. Iowa's own massive cannons swing around to point at where the enemy will come from. Mahan has quickly loaded her own gun and steels herself for the fight.
A little fairy crawls up your arm, salutes you, and crawls into the 5-inch turret. You're ready for a fight.
The five of you steam onwards in tense silence, waiting for the ball to drop. Then, Iowa spots it on the horizon with her rangefinders, the reports of the scouts and radar readings not doing it justice.
"Mother of god..." Iowa pales, looking like a deer caught in headlights. It takes almost a minute for your own inferior rangefinders to see it, but the sight makes you blanch.
A good portion of the horizon is solid black, the monstrous Abyssal planes buzzing forward in numbers enough to obscure the sky behind them.
"...Can we still make it to Midway?" Atlanta asks shakily, clearly unsettled by the oncoming swarm.
"No... Indy is too slow," Iowa glances at the light carrier with regret, "As it is, just you and me would barely make it, Atlanta."
"...You do not have to stay for me," Independence looks down in resignation, "It is better if you leave. I will provide a distraction and slow them down enough for you to reach safety."
"Like hell we're leaving you!" Atlanta suddenly glares at Independence, "Don't pull this sacrificial bullshit!"
Iowa looks torn, and Mahan indecisive. Where do you stand? Can you leave Independence in good conscience; for the greater good, or do you stand and fight for your comrade, although it may only end with five more wrecks beneath the waves?
{Options}
[] Voice your support for heading to Midway. It was your idea in the first place and is still your best chance for survival. As much as you hate to say it, Iowa needs to survive. Her loss would be an irreparable blow to the USN, and render this mission a failure.
[] Voice your support of Atlanta. You already left someone behind once, you won't leave a sister-in-arms to the mercy of the Abyssals. You stand and fight with Independence and Atlanta. Anyone who doesn't like it can leave, you'll buy them time to flee.
[] Write in...
