Fleetgirls at Floodtide (Azur Lane/1900s Alternate History)
- Thread starter Erien
- Start date
- Mature Alt. History Action
Erien
God's Weakest Soldier
- Location
- Georgia
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Identical. As for resources, there the Sirens unfortunately have helped out.
SeismicGuide
The Quakiest of Quakebotes
- Location
- A usually Warm, Southern state of the US
[X] [Go to Leviathan's quarters]
[X] [Go to Leviathan's quarters]
What is the full casualties this past 2 days? For the Germans and Americans.
What is the full casualties this past 2 days? For the Germans and Americans.
Erien
God's Weakest Soldier
- Location
- Georgia
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Germans lost two uboats. both type XXI.
USS Honolulu - Sunk
USS Hodges - Sunk
USS Hughes - Damaged, destroyed bow after ramming a Uboat.
USS Northampton - Damaged, not serious, Uboat fired deck guns at her.
USS Quincy - Damaged, rudder is gone from a torpedo hit on the stern.
Others have more superficial damage not worth mentioning. Please note that beyond some resupply ships, this was not a merchant escort, there were no cargo ships to target. The Germans attacked a fully military force.
Last edited:
- Location
- Texas
I will never not pronounce that as 'scar', because we all know the h should just sit in the corner and let the crazy Americans play with the alphabet.
[X] [Go to Leviathan's quarters]
Erien
God's Weakest Soldier
- Location
- Georgia
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Good news, that's how it's pronounced.
- Location
- Texas
Huzzah!
Now we can say all of the shipgirls have been emotionally 'scahrred' and mean it even more then usual!
That's late war shit!!
Which mad lad did it??? They got punished for it right?
- Pronouns
- He
[X] [Go to Leviathan's quarters]
Erien
God's Weakest Soldier
- Location
- Georgia
- Pronouns
- He/Him
2.1 - Confrontation
Erien
God's Weakest Soldier
- Location
- Georgia
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[Go to Leviathan's quarters]
Thanks to @Armoury for the beta!
—
I glance down at the cup of coffee in my hands, wondering if, perhaps. It could lead me out of these troubled waters and towards tranquil shores. But the engine-oil disguised as coffee merely stained the side of the cup as I stirred it. It would not reveal its secrets, for it was a false seer, not even willing to truly share its identity. Setting it down onto the radio stack I make my way out of the bridge, then begin to go down, and down, and down. Every shipgirl's 'Room' was in a different place, even on the same class of ship. But it was, invariably, at the lowest level regardless. That did not mean they were difficult to find, far from it.
Scholars and scientists have guessed that the rooms form there the same time the shipgirls themselves do, likely out of a desire to be as close to the water as possible. Others theorize that, as the most vulnerable part of the vessel, the lowest section of the hull could be considered the 'heart' of the craft. In any case, they were, as mentioned, not hard to find. As far from the cramped ladders that would lead to the lowest areas of the vessel. There were always wide, particular paths. Far too wide to actually be physically possible within the tight confines of the lowest levels. All invariably leading to a large bulkhead door marked with various notifications… and notes in one particular instance, the USS Amsterdam famously never left her quarters at all, communicating instead via notes and a single talk tube.
Leviathan's area was well maintained, with hardwood flooring topped by a rather… conspicuous red carpet, and shaded electrical lighting along the wall leading to the door. It was… not a bulkhead, instead it was a thick and well maintained oak door, embossed with a golden eagle on the front. I stare at it for a moment.
Cassin simply had a bulkhead that led into her 'den' on the lowest level. It would seem Leviathan decided to live in a rather different fashion. She had been famed for her hospitality, class, and decorum. Of which she had shown precisely none to me in any of those three categories. But here, at least, it was apparent. As before now the only 'class' she had had was the red dress she moved around in. That wasn't bitterness on my part, and frankly, I did understand it. That, however, did not mean it was pleasant to deal with.
"Leviathan, I'm coming in."
—
View: https://youtu.be/jcohDIPZh5Y?si=XZLCCaa2tLFJWDAK
—
The room was… both less and more than I expected. In the center of it, floating upon a central pedestal of jet black metal was her Wisdom Cube, her 'soul' for lack of a better term. It spun slowly of its own volition, tilting and turning in the air. Soft music filled the air, a soft, slightly melancholic piece from a record player just by the door. The room was about the same size as my own, filled with finely made furniture, decorations, and above all… models. Plinths were set about, each filled with a different model of ship, some were warships, others small little fishing craft. But one stood out from the rest, for it was set just in front of the wisdom cube pedestal itself. It depicted a black cruise liner with a proud pendant painted on the front of her hull. Three tall stacks rose from her, billowing smoke made out of painted cotton. On a simple golden plaque rested the words 'SS Vaterland', and in front of that… was Leviathan.
She stood, still as a statue, unbreathing, for there was apparently no longer a reason to fake a breath. Not blinking, for her eyes did not require moisture or protection as a human would. She was more doll than anything else, and she didn't begin to turn her head to look at me until I was standing just beside her.
"Leave."
"I think the last thing you need right now is to be alone with your own thoughts."
Her eyes narrow. "And who are you to say what I need?"
"Your Admiral," I reply. "Failing that, someone who understands."
"You?" Leviathan hisses. "You?" She steps forward, her face inches from me won. "You understand me? A human? Get out of here before I do blow my boilers!"
"And endanger your own crew in hostile waters?" I ask quietly. "You will not get through this by being alone Leviathan. I have seen this in many sailors."
"Get through what? Annoyance at my Admiral barging into my qua-"
"Fear." I interrupt.
Leviathan's jaw clicks shut.
"You're afraid, you feel powerless, this is your first time in a combat situation. You aren't the first, you won't be the last."
"You think you're better than me?"
"No, and I don't know why you would begin to even think that."
Leviathan steps back. "You step in here, telling me you know what I'm feeling, yet you apparently are immune."
"You think I don't feel fear?" I ask, then shake my head. "No, I feel fear, but it's not my job to show it. Nor is it yours. The crew looks to us both for guidance, if I let the mask fall, if I crack, they all fall apart."
"A bullet can kill you sir. I have to worry about being a giant target in these waters, unable to defend myself. Our stations are nowhere near similar. If I fall… I take my crew with me."
"And if I make a mistake, I could easily cause you to fall. Do you fail to see the similarities?"
"And I never asked for you!" Leviathan shouts. "I don't need you, I don't want you. I can… I can take care of myself and get my crew through this. Don't you get that? I don't need another…" She looks at the model case again. "I don't need another damned American telling me what to do!
"It's always changing, always always always! I was a Liner, beautiful, sleek. I tried to be the best in the world even when I didn't have this body. Then I was a troop ship, and I changed again, they tore into my hull, they tore into me!
"Then, after all of that, they remove what little identity that I have left." She grips the edge of the glass, lifts it, then tosses it clear across the room as easily as I would a wad of paper. It shatters against a picture, shards of glass raining down to the floor. "My stacks are gone, replaced by a flight deck, my accouterments hidden or destroyed. The only thing that remains of me is the foredeck plating and the furniture in the Officer's quarters."
She's leaning over the model now, staring down at it, arms shaking on either side of the plinth. "I shouldn't be here, I shouldn't be dodging torpedoes in the night. I'm not built for this, I'm supposed to be beautiful, I'm supposed to entertain people.
"So I tried, I figured, I can at least get a German crew, someone who understands me, and we could get this all over with quickly. I don't like what has happened to my country." She then turns her head to look at me. "And then you showed up. I don't even know what I'm meant to be Admiral. So forgive me if I'm not in the mood for whatever… talk you had planned to raise my spirits."
I draw in a long, and slow breath, then speak gently. "Leviathan, I am meant to take care of the ship and the crew, and you. I cannot pretend to know what it's like to change as you have, but I am very familiar with the stresses of combat." I remove my cap, staring at it for a few moments before setting it aside. "I have been in this fight since 1918… and I had less gray in my hair then. Pearl Harbor was far from my first, though it was far from pleasant in any case.
"There's no gift to it, it's just experience and time. I can't let the men know I'm scared, I have to keep a cool head and give orders. It doesn't make me better than you." I frown for a moment, then let it fade away. "I understand that this isn't what you wanted, very few things have happened as you wanted it. I didn't wish for this war to happen to begin with, but it has, and now we all have our part to play in it." Then you stare the shipgirl in the eyes. "I want to help you however I can Leviathan, if you'll let me." I move to the otherside of the model, the wisdom cube behind me so that we are looking face to face.
"How very noble." Leviathan replies. "And you think me crying on your shoulder will make things better?"
"Would it hurt?"
"Get out." Leviathan snaps.
"No." I reply. "Yell at me all you want Leviathan, vent, scream, but you need to process this."
"Don't act like you understand me!" Leviathan walks through the model, the pedestal breaking before her into little more than exploding fragments of wood and debris as it does nothing to slow her. Her hands snap up, grab me by the lapels and hoist me off the ground, my feet dangling beneath me as she lifts me a good foot off the ground so that we are actually eye level. "Do you know what it's like to feel this helpless?"
"Yes."
"When?!"
"Pearl." I hiss. "It was just myself and Cassin, and I was helpless to do a damn thing to help anyone until the very end, and doing that? It cost me my hand." I raise the stump of my hand. "I lost this likely because I stopped to save lives, because it was the right thing to do. I didn't have my crew that day, I was in a situation I was completely unprepared for. But I did my duty. I won't pretend you need to be led or controlled by duty, but you need to do what you were rebuilt to do. If not, you can be removed from this vessel… and you will if you do not release me."
She lowers me back to the ground, but she does not let go of my uniform, "removed?"
"Yes, removed. You would not be the first shipgirl to rebel. This ship can easily function without you in it, and I am desperately trying to avoid that at the moment."
Her hands release my uniform, and she takes a step back, her eyes wide.
"You would kill me?"
I sigh. "No, but if you threaten me again I would have no choice but to take some form of action, like I would any other sailor threatening treason." I walk past her, grabbing my hat from the ground and putting it back onto my head. "Leviathan, please do believe me when I say I at least understand the fear you are suffering at the moment, and I would happily help you get past that. But as for your difficulties as to what you wish to be, I can only be a voice of comfort.
"And for that, I'm sorry, I deeply and truly am. I wish I could help, I'm sorry that this isn't going the way you wanted it to, I'm sorry that I can't be what you wanted me to be. People died, and people are going to die. The Navy sends men and ships where they are needed, and this is where they need us at the moment."
Leviathan stares at me, saying nothing for several long moments. "So that's it? I just… deal with this or you'll have me removed? I just put aside what's been done to me?"
I close my eyes and sigh again. "No, Leviathan. No." I open them once more, and smile. "I want to work with you as a partner, and reach a point where you'll accept me for more reasons than you trust me to get you out of this situation like you have the previous two nights. I know I'm not what you wanted, at least not at the start, but I hope I can become that person with that, and beyond that be someone you can speak to regarding any other issues you have."
"I don't need that!" Leviathan growls, chest heaving.
"And yet you are breathing again." I reply.
Leviathan blinks, then looks down to where she was 'breathing' once more.
"You became so distracted talking to me that, however briefly, you relaxed enough to fall into habits. You are not the first ship to have these issues, but you are more than just the ship Leviathan. You are yourself, you are not the Vaterland, you are you. You live, you have existence and thought. You are not some converted fishing trawler, you are a person who serves her country.
"So please tell me if you need anything, I'll be there. Alright?"
Leviathan stares at me, saying nothing.
I stare back.
Leviathan looks away, then nods minutely. "It's not fair, Admiral."
"No, it isn't. But we have to play the cards we're dealt. In any other time I wouldn't be in the Navy with my injury, but things are desperate. I'm still learning how to climb a ladder with one hand. You're learning how to deal with combat."
"Is that why you're doing this then? Because you think we're similar?"
"No, I'm doing it because you've been an absolutely terrible brat that I've had to put up with for several days and I'm afraid you were heading for an emotional breakdown that would lead to you destroying yourself in some fashion."
Leviathan's eyes widen, and her mouth opens, but it seems she doesn't know what to say.
"But I understand why, you are far, far from the first."
"You insult me?" Leviathan asks, "After all of that?"
"No, I describe you." I reply. "But it's something you'll get past. Now," I look down at the crushed model at her feet. "Lets get that cleaned up, and a new one ordered once we're back in port. After that, I think we're due for some breakfast. Any argument?"
Leviathan stands there, unsure.
I kneel, and begin pushing bits of wood aside. "Get a dustbin," I then pick up the model, it had broken into about… five chunks. "Fine work, I assume you did this yourself?"
"I… yes." Leviathan responds, her voice quieter than it had been in a while.
I turn it around in my hand. "We should be able to fix this, though we'll need some putty, and paint."
"I have both in my desk." Leviathan replies, "Wait… what are you doing?"
"Cleaning," I reply, doing my best to avoid any particularly sharp pieces of wood. "This was clearly rather important to you and it doesn't belong on the floor. Dustbin, go get it please."
Leviathan disappears, then reappears a moment later with a gray metal trashcan. I stare at it for a moment, then nod my head. "Alright, we'll need to replace the pedestal, but the model can likely be saved, help me pick up some of this wood."
Leviathan hesitates for several moments, off kilter. Then kneels down and begins to aid me, it only takes a short time, if only because Leviathan is able to snap the still large sections clean in half with her bare hands. Then all that remains is the model still lying in pieces on the floor.
Leviathan stares down at it, a stricken expression on her face.
"It can be rebuilt, but… let's get some breakfast first."
Leviathan looks at me, her expression spoke of nothing. But she speaks after a few seconds. "Aye Sir."
"Thank you," I reply with a smile.
—
"USS Ingraham, reporting sir." The destroyer greets, hand pressed against her head in salute.
"Saluting is hardly necessary."
The destroyer tilts her head, staring up at me curiously. "But I like it?"
Ingraham was dressed much in the same way Cassin was, and by extension, much in the same way a vast majority of non-capital ships were, in a modified WAVES uniform. She did, however, have noticeable differences. For starters, the uniform was quite filthy, stained with oil and grease, turning the blue uniform black in several places. Secondly, she was wearing glasses, which was quite odd as shipgirls didn't really use their 'eyes' to see in much the same way humans do. She was a few inches taller than Cassin as well, it was an easy comparison, considering Cassin was staring less than a foot away pondering the new arrival much like a man might a statue or painting.
We were on the foredeck, the flightdeck above my little assembled group as we met the next member of my task group. Leviathan was standing just beside me, watching the destroyer with a smile on her face but saying nothing. That had been a trend, she had said little ever since our talk in the morning. But she was at least willing to be around me, so I was fairly confident she wasn't wholly against my existence at the very least.
The foredeck was rather odd to say the least, namely because it still had trappings of the old vessel this ship used to be. A well made, hardwood deck painted white, and talls windows and a door behind me leading into the forward galleys. About the only thing that made it stand out as being a warship was the fact to either side of me stood anti-aircraft mounts.
I smile. "Any issues reaching us?"
Ingraham shakes her head. "No, but looks like you all had a bitch of a time getting up here."
"Language!" Cassin says. "How can you be a proper naval vessel if you swear?"
Ingraham looks to my other destroyer, but says nothing.
I do as well, but for entirely different reasons. "We did, I am glad to have you with us."
Ingraham nods, her hands moving behind her back as she rocks a bit on her heels. "Soooo… heard you had a helicopter?"
"We do y-" I begin to reply.
Then she was gone, without so much as a 'goodbye' or 'thanks for letting me onboard'. I stare at the spot she vacated, wondering, briefly, if I should bother calling her back. Shipgirls couldn't teleport around the vessel unless it was their own vessel… but then again… "Leviathan, is she?"
"She's in the hanger Admiral, should I retrieve her?"
…
"No, though, keep an eye on her. I'm retiring to my quarters before the night starts."
"Aye… are we expecting… do you expect any further attacks tonight?" Leviathan asks, a deliberate force of calm in her voice.
"No," I reply, and I look up at the blimp still hovering over the fleet. "They'll have learned their lesson from last night, and if they didn't, they'd have seen the ships joining the task group today. We're safe."
"Understood Admiral."
"And I'll kick the ass of any subm-"
"Language," I reply.
"I'll… sink any submarines that show up." Cassin corrects.
"Thank you. Dismissed." Then I head off to my own quarters after giving a quick word to my XO that I wasn't to be disturbed for a fair bit.
And, miraculously, I wasn't. It was six in the evening when I laid down in my bed finally, it wasn't until eight in the morning that someone knocked on my door to wake me. I opened my eyes slowly, taking in the morning light, then looked at the door. "Yes?"
The door opened a moment later, to reveal… Leviathan, holding a tray of coffee. She looks at me, a faint smile on her face. "That is enough being lazy Admiral, we will be within sight of Florida within the next hour and you have to assist me in working on a flight schedule."
"Is that so?" I asks, then slowly extricate myself from the bed.
Leviathan passes me the cup of coffee then moves over to my uniform, looking it over for several moments before nodding to yourself. "You keep a clean uniform."
"A man must show off his best self to his men." I reply, and take a sip from the cu-
I stare down at it.
This wasn't navy coffee, this was actually good fucking coffee.
Leviathan nods, apparently pleased with something, then looks back at me. "Breakfast is nearly ready and will be on your desk sir within the next ten minutes, I would suggest you freshen up."
Then she was gone.
…
I take another sip of the coffee. Well, that was a good sign at least. I get dressed, then head out. The morning passed pleasantly enough, as did the flight training. The only real shock was-
—
[] [Ingraham]
She had… done what to her turrets? How was that even possible?
[] [Leviathan]
Wanted to take you up for a flight and some… target practice?
[] [Cassin]
Appeared to be trying to seduce you.
—
Next chapter is Norfolk. Then there's gonna be a social vote or two before the chaos of crossing the Atlantic begins, which will have several tactical votes.
Thanks to @Armoury for the beta!
—
I glance down at the cup of coffee in my hands, wondering if, perhaps. It could lead me out of these troubled waters and towards tranquil shores. But the engine-oil disguised as coffee merely stained the side of the cup as I stirred it. It would not reveal its secrets, for it was a false seer, not even willing to truly share its identity. Setting it down onto the radio stack I make my way out of the bridge, then begin to go down, and down, and down. Every shipgirl's 'Room' was in a different place, even on the same class of ship. But it was, invariably, at the lowest level regardless. That did not mean they were difficult to find, far from it.
Scholars and scientists have guessed that the rooms form there the same time the shipgirls themselves do, likely out of a desire to be as close to the water as possible. Others theorize that, as the most vulnerable part of the vessel, the lowest section of the hull could be considered the 'heart' of the craft. In any case, they were, as mentioned, not hard to find. As far from the cramped ladders that would lead to the lowest areas of the vessel. There were always wide, particular paths. Far too wide to actually be physically possible within the tight confines of the lowest levels. All invariably leading to a large bulkhead door marked with various notifications… and notes in one particular instance, the USS Amsterdam famously never left her quarters at all, communicating instead via notes and a single talk tube.
Leviathan's area was well maintained, with hardwood flooring topped by a rather… conspicuous red carpet, and shaded electrical lighting along the wall leading to the door. It was… not a bulkhead, instead it was a thick and well maintained oak door, embossed with a golden eagle on the front. I stare at it for a moment.
Cassin simply had a bulkhead that led into her 'den' on the lowest level. It would seem Leviathan decided to live in a rather different fashion. She had been famed for her hospitality, class, and decorum. Of which she had shown precisely none to me in any of those three categories. But here, at least, it was apparent. As before now the only 'class' she had had was the red dress she moved around in. That wasn't bitterness on my part, and frankly, I did understand it. That, however, did not mean it was pleasant to deal with.
"Leviathan, I'm coming in."
—
View: https://youtu.be/jcohDIPZh5Y?si=XZLCCaa2tLFJWDAK
—
The room was… both less and more than I expected. In the center of it, floating upon a central pedestal of jet black metal was her Wisdom Cube, her 'soul' for lack of a better term. It spun slowly of its own volition, tilting and turning in the air. Soft music filled the air, a soft, slightly melancholic piece from a record player just by the door. The room was about the same size as my own, filled with finely made furniture, decorations, and above all… models. Plinths were set about, each filled with a different model of ship, some were warships, others small little fishing craft. But one stood out from the rest, for it was set just in front of the wisdom cube pedestal itself. It depicted a black cruise liner with a proud pendant painted on the front of her hull. Three tall stacks rose from her, billowing smoke made out of painted cotton. On a simple golden plaque rested the words 'SS Vaterland', and in front of that… was Leviathan.
She stood, still as a statue, unbreathing, for there was apparently no longer a reason to fake a breath. Not blinking, for her eyes did not require moisture or protection as a human would. She was more doll than anything else, and she didn't begin to turn her head to look at me until I was standing just beside her.
"Leave."
"I think the last thing you need right now is to be alone with your own thoughts."
Her eyes narrow. "And who are you to say what I need?"
"Your Admiral," I reply. "Failing that, someone who understands."
"You?" Leviathan hisses. "You?" She steps forward, her face inches from me won. "You understand me? A human? Get out of here before I do blow my boilers!"
"And endanger your own crew in hostile waters?" I ask quietly. "You will not get through this by being alone Leviathan. I have seen this in many sailors."
"Get through what? Annoyance at my Admiral barging into my qua-"
"Fear." I interrupt.
Leviathan's jaw clicks shut.
"You're afraid, you feel powerless, this is your first time in a combat situation. You aren't the first, you won't be the last."
"You think you're better than me?"
"No, and I don't know why you would begin to even think that."
Leviathan steps back. "You step in here, telling me you know what I'm feeling, yet you apparently are immune."
"You think I don't feel fear?" I ask, then shake my head. "No, I feel fear, but it's not my job to show it. Nor is it yours. The crew looks to us both for guidance, if I let the mask fall, if I crack, they all fall apart."
"A bullet can kill you sir. I have to worry about being a giant target in these waters, unable to defend myself. Our stations are nowhere near similar. If I fall… I take my crew with me."
"And if I make a mistake, I could easily cause you to fall. Do you fail to see the similarities?"
"And I never asked for you!" Leviathan shouts. "I don't need you, I don't want you. I can… I can take care of myself and get my crew through this. Don't you get that? I don't need another…" She looks at the model case again. "I don't need another damned American telling me what to do!
"It's always changing, always always always! I was a Liner, beautiful, sleek. I tried to be the best in the world even when I didn't have this body. Then I was a troop ship, and I changed again, they tore into my hull, they tore into me!
"Then, after all of that, they remove what little identity that I have left." She grips the edge of the glass, lifts it, then tosses it clear across the room as easily as I would a wad of paper. It shatters against a picture, shards of glass raining down to the floor. "My stacks are gone, replaced by a flight deck, my accouterments hidden or destroyed. The only thing that remains of me is the foredeck plating and the furniture in the Officer's quarters."
She's leaning over the model now, staring down at it, arms shaking on either side of the plinth. "I shouldn't be here, I shouldn't be dodging torpedoes in the night. I'm not built for this, I'm supposed to be beautiful, I'm supposed to entertain people.
"So I tried, I figured, I can at least get a German crew, someone who understands me, and we could get this all over with quickly. I don't like what has happened to my country." She then turns her head to look at me. "And then you showed up. I don't even know what I'm meant to be Admiral. So forgive me if I'm not in the mood for whatever… talk you had planned to raise my spirits."
I draw in a long, and slow breath, then speak gently. "Leviathan, I am meant to take care of the ship and the crew, and you. I cannot pretend to know what it's like to change as you have, but I am very familiar with the stresses of combat." I remove my cap, staring at it for a few moments before setting it aside. "I have been in this fight since 1918… and I had less gray in my hair then. Pearl Harbor was far from my first, though it was far from pleasant in any case.
"There's no gift to it, it's just experience and time. I can't let the men know I'm scared, I have to keep a cool head and give orders. It doesn't make me better than you." I frown for a moment, then let it fade away. "I understand that this isn't what you wanted, very few things have happened as you wanted it. I didn't wish for this war to happen to begin with, but it has, and now we all have our part to play in it." Then you stare the shipgirl in the eyes. "I want to help you however I can Leviathan, if you'll let me." I move to the otherside of the model, the wisdom cube behind me so that we are looking face to face.
"How very noble." Leviathan replies. "And you think me crying on your shoulder will make things better?"
"Would it hurt?"
"Get out." Leviathan snaps.
"No." I reply. "Yell at me all you want Leviathan, vent, scream, but you need to process this."
"Don't act like you understand me!" Leviathan walks through the model, the pedestal breaking before her into little more than exploding fragments of wood and debris as it does nothing to slow her. Her hands snap up, grab me by the lapels and hoist me off the ground, my feet dangling beneath me as she lifts me a good foot off the ground so that we are actually eye level. "Do you know what it's like to feel this helpless?"
"Yes."
"When?!"
"Pearl." I hiss. "It was just myself and Cassin, and I was helpless to do a damn thing to help anyone until the very end, and doing that? It cost me my hand." I raise the stump of my hand. "I lost this likely because I stopped to save lives, because it was the right thing to do. I didn't have my crew that day, I was in a situation I was completely unprepared for. But I did my duty. I won't pretend you need to be led or controlled by duty, but you need to do what you were rebuilt to do. If not, you can be removed from this vessel… and you will if you do not release me."
She lowers me back to the ground, but she does not let go of my uniform, "removed?"
"Yes, removed. You would not be the first shipgirl to rebel. This ship can easily function without you in it, and I am desperately trying to avoid that at the moment."
Her hands release my uniform, and she takes a step back, her eyes wide.
"You would kill me?"
I sigh. "No, but if you threaten me again I would have no choice but to take some form of action, like I would any other sailor threatening treason." I walk past her, grabbing my hat from the ground and putting it back onto my head. "Leviathan, please do believe me when I say I at least understand the fear you are suffering at the moment, and I would happily help you get past that. But as for your difficulties as to what you wish to be, I can only be a voice of comfort.
"And for that, I'm sorry, I deeply and truly am. I wish I could help, I'm sorry that this isn't going the way you wanted it to, I'm sorry that I can't be what you wanted me to be. People died, and people are going to die. The Navy sends men and ships where they are needed, and this is where they need us at the moment."
Leviathan stares at me, saying nothing for several long moments. "So that's it? I just… deal with this or you'll have me removed? I just put aside what's been done to me?"
I close my eyes and sigh again. "No, Leviathan. No." I open them once more, and smile. "I want to work with you as a partner, and reach a point where you'll accept me for more reasons than you trust me to get you out of this situation like you have the previous two nights. I know I'm not what you wanted, at least not at the start, but I hope I can become that person with that, and beyond that be someone you can speak to regarding any other issues you have."
"I don't need that!" Leviathan growls, chest heaving.
"And yet you are breathing again." I reply.
Leviathan blinks, then looks down to where she was 'breathing' once more.
"You became so distracted talking to me that, however briefly, you relaxed enough to fall into habits. You are not the first ship to have these issues, but you are more than just the ship Leviathan. You are yourself, you are not the Vaterland, you are you. You live, you have existence and thought. You are not some converted fishing trawler, you are a person who serves her country.
"So please tell me if you need anything, I'll be there. Alright?"
Leviathan stares at me, saying nothing.
I stare back.
Leviathan looks away, then nods minutely. "It's not fair, Admiral."
"No, it isn't. But we have to play the cards we're dealt. In any other time I wouldn't be in the Navy with my injury, but things are desperate. I'm still learning how to climb a ladder with one hand. You're learning how to deal with combat."
"Is that why you're doing this then? Because you think we're similar?"
"No, I'm doing it because you've been an absolutely terrible brat that I've had to put up with for several days and I'm afraid you were heading for an emotional breakdown that would lead to you destroying yourself in some fashion."
Leviathan's eyes widen, and her mouth opens, but it seems she doesn't know what to say.
"But I understand why, you are far, far from the first."
"You insult me?" Leviathan asks, "After all of that?"
"No, I describe you." I reply. "But it's something you'll get past. Now," I look down at the crushed model at her feet. "Lets get that cleaned up, and a new one ordered once we're back in port. After that, I think we're due for some breakfast. Any argument?"
Leviathan stands there, unsure.
I kneel, and begin pushing bits of wood aside. "Get a dustbin," I then pick up the model, it had broken into about… five chunks. "Fine work, I assume you did this yourself?"
"I… yes." Leviathan responds, her voice quieter than it had been in a while.
I turn it around in my hand. "We should be able to fix this, though we'll need some putty, and paint."
"I have both in my desk." Leviathan replies, "Wait… what are you doing?"
"Cleaning," I reply, doing my best to avoid any particularly sharp pieces of wood. "This was clearly rather important to you and it doesn't belong on the floor. Dustbin, go get it please."
Leviathan disappears, then reappears a moment later with a gray metal trashcan. I stare at it for a moment, then nod my head. "Alright, we'll need to replace the pedestal, but the model can likely be saved, help me pick up some of this wood."
Leviathan hesitates for several moments, off kilter. Then kneels down and begins to aid me, it only takes a short time, if only because Leviathan is able to snap the still large sections clean in half with her bare hands. Then all that remains is the model still lying in pieces on the floor.
Leviathan stares down at it, a stricken expression on her face.
"It can be rebuilt, but… let's get some breakfast first."
Leviathan looks at me, her expression spoke of nothing. But she speaks after a few seconds. "Aye Sir."
"Thank you," I reply with a smile.
—
"USS Ingraham, reporting sir." The destroyer greets, hand pressed against her head in salute.
"Saluting is hardly necessary."
The destroyer tilts her head, staring up at me curiously. "But I like it?"
Ingraham was dressed much in the same way Cassin was, and by extension, much in the same way a vast majority of non-capital ships were, in a modified WAVES uniform. She did, however, have noticeable differences. For starters, the uniform was quite filthy, stained with oil and grease, turning the blue uniform black in several places. Secondly, she was wearing glasses, which was quite odd as shipgirls didn't really use their 'eyes' to see in much the same way humans do. She was a few inches taller than Cassin as well, it was an easy comparison, considering Cassin was staring less than a foot away pondering the new arrival much like a man might a statue or painting.
We were on the foredeck, the flightdeck above my little assembled group as we met the next member of my task group. Leviathan was standing just beside me, watching the destroyer with a smile on her face but saying nothing. That had been a trend, she had said little ever since our talk in the morning. But she was at least willing to be around me, so I was fairly confident she wasn't wholly against my existence at the very least.
The foredeck was rather odd to say the least, namely because it still had trappings of the old vessel this ship used to be. A well made, hardwood deck painted white, and talls windows and a door behind me leading into the forward galleys. About the only thing that made it stand out as being a warship was the fact to either side of me stood anti-aircraft mounts.
I smile. "Any issues reaching us?"
Ingraham shakes her head. "No, but looks like you all had a bitch of a time getting up here."
"Language!" Cassin says. "How can you be a proper naval vessel if you swear?"
Ingraham looks to my other destroyer, but says nothing.
I do as well, but for entirely different reasons. "We did, I am glad to have you with us."
Ingraham nods, her hands moving behind her back as she rocks a bit on her heels. "Soooo… heard you had a helicopter?"
"We do y-" I begin to reply.
Then she was gone, without so much as a 'goodbye' or 'thanks for letting me onboard'. I stare at the spot she vacated, wondering, briefly, if I should bother calling her back. Shipgirls couldn't teleport around the vessel unless it was their own vessel… but then again… "Leviathan, is she?"
"She's in the hanger Admiral, should I retrieve her?"
…
"No, though, keep an eye on her. I'm retiring to my quarters before the night starts."
"Aye… are we expecting… do you expect any further attacks tonight?" Leviathan asks, a deliberate force of calm in her voice.
"No," I reply, and I look up at the blimp still hovering over the fleet. "They'll have learned their lesson from last night, and if they didn't, they'd have seen the ships joining the task group today. We're safe."
"Understood Admiral."
"And I'll kick the ass of any subm-"
"Language," I reply.
"I'll… sink any submarines that show up." Cassin corrects.
"Thank you. Dismissed." Then I head off to my own quarters after giving a quick word to my XO that I wasn't to be disturbed for a fair bit.
And, miraculously, I wasn't. It was six in the evening when I laid down in my bed finally, it wasn't until eight in the morning that someone knocked on my door to wake me. I opened my eyes slowly, taking in the morning light, then looked at the door. "Yes?"
The door opened a moment later, to reveal… Leviathan, holding a tray of coffee. She looks at me, a faint smile on her face. "That is enough being lazy Admiral, we will be within sight of Florida within the next hour and you have to assist me in working on a flight schedule."
"Is that so?" I asks, then slowly extricate myself from the bed.
Leviathan passes me the cup of coffee then moves over to my uniform, looking it over for several moments before nodding to yourself. "You keep a clean uniform."
"A man must show off his best self to his men." I reply, and take a sip from the cu-
I stare down at it.
This wasn't navy coffee, this was actually good fucking coffee.
Leviathan nods, apparently pleased with something, then looks back at me. "Breakfast is nearly ready and will be on your desk sir within the next ten minutes, I would suggest you freshen up."
Then she was gone.
…
I take another sip of the coffee. Well, that was a good sign at least. I get dressed, then head out. The morning passed pleasantly enough, as did the flight training. The only real shock was-
—
[] [Ingraham]
She had… done what to her turrets? How was that even possible?
[] [Leviathan]
Wanted to take you up for a flight and some… target practice?
[] [Cassin]
Appeared to be trying to seduce you.
—
Next chapter is Norfolk. Then there's gonna be a social vote or two before the chaos of crossing the Atlantic begins, which will have several tactical votes.
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NuclearConsensus
Herald of the Thorned One
- Location
- the Philippines
[X] [Ingraham]
Let's get to know our new addition to the fleet.
Let's get to know our new addition to the fleet.
DB_Explorer
Purveyor of alternate realities.
- Location
- San Diego, California
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, "I am strong".
Voted nicest lookout spot in the fleet!
Pot, kettle, black.
... ...
HAIL LEVIATHAN GLORY TO HER NAME
[X] [Cassin]
how can I say no to that tease?
- Location
- Texas
Look, as long as it contains caffeine, it's good enough!
Hmm, do the shipgirls actually design their quarters, or do they just naturally reflect their personalities? I mean, you said they show up with the girls, so I doubt they go through a normal construction process.
Possibly one of the most important lessons for Leviathan to learn at this point. It's perfectly fine to feel the fear, but you can't let it take control.
That's absolutely adorable. I love her already.
Why would Ingraham stick around when there's SCIENCE to look at?
Hmm, he'll need to catch up on sleep at some point before that becomes an issue.
Leviathan: I was meant to be luxury liner. I will be serving REAL coffee on this ship, thank you very much!
[X] [Cassin]
Appeared to be trying to seduce you.
Look, if she's doing a good job being seduction, bravo, she's adorable. If she's doing a BAD job being seductive, bravo, this will be hilarious!
[X] [Ingraham]
A disaster in the making? Or the start of something revolutionary?
Deeps, it may be both!
A disaster in the making? Or the start of something revolutionary?
Deeps, it may be both!
[X] [Ingraham]
