Skywalker_T-65
Writer with too many ideas.
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Indestructible Spirit (Kancolle AU)
- Thread starter Skywalker_T-65
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I'm going to copypasta a couple of excerpts from previous posts here; the first is a partial transcript of an Admiralty document (ADM1/10141) with acknowledgement of who provided it for me on another forum. The document itself is dated 1939.
See ADM1/10141 for this relevant paragraph -
A ship mounting 15-inch guns on a displacement of about 40,000 tons could probably be given a speed of about 30 knots without making any substantial sacrifice in protection and although not quite so powerful as our 16-inch gun ships when lying in the battleline, she would be of inestimable value as a fully armored battlecruiser:
(a) To detach in pursuit of Japanese 12-inch gun cruisers raiding our Eastern Trade routes.
(b) To counter Japanese 8-inch gun cruisers in battle.
(c) To operate in Indian and Australian waters before the arrival of our Fleet in the Far East, such a ship would be very appropriate for the Royal Australian Navy to take over.
[The above was kindly posted for my information on the NavWeaps discussion boards by 1Big Rich; I haven't actually been to the Public Records Office in Kew to study the document.]
The second "copypasta", from a more recent post, is merely my opinion; although I consider it to make sense -
Although the only evidence I have is evidence of absence the terminology seems to have been dropped around 1940/1 when the KGVs (whose speed straddled the gap between the QEs and Nelsons and the battlecruisers) started coming into service.
As for the G3s? They were and are always described as battlecruisers, yet now that the plans have become accessible to those with time to visit Kew there's serious discussion on Naval Enthusiasts websites as to which design was better - G3 or Iowa. No one disputes that the Iowas were fast battleships, rather they're saying that regardless of the idiosyncratic British naming conventions that's what the G3s themselves would have been.
To repeat myself - to the British between about 1911-1912 (when the battlecruiser lineage started showing a clear departure from the Armoured Cruiser lineage and around the time the term battlecruiser started to gain currency) up to 1939 at the least to the British a battlecruiser was a capital ship with a 4-6 knot advantage over the battleline; nothing more, nothing less. In Hood's and Vanguard's cases that was in comparison to the Queen Elizabeths and the Nelsons.
For all its issues Hood's armour, after the post Jutland redesign, was roughly equivalent to an unmodified Queen Elizabeth's protection. Yet she was always a battlecruiser and not a fast battleship.
I wouldn't because we're talking about the British usage of the term "battlecruiser", not the American. As has been noted terminology varies between nations.
SaltyWaffles
I am dissapoint, son
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Yes, but we're talking about standards. If you can come up with any evidence that the British referred to all fast battleships as battlecruisers, I will gladly say that they weren't just using myopic double-standards. Same, if you can prove such for all battlecruisers-turned-fleet-carriers/fast-battleships, including their own.
Seydlitz's Story: Demon of the Baltic.
Skywalker_T-65
Writer with too many ideas.
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- United States
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Posting this in here as well as in my snip thread. The start of the Seydlitz side bit.
Darkness. Darkness is all she knew.
Darkness and cold. So very, very cold. The feeling of water crashing through her hull, her body opened by her crew. Men who she would have died for, killing her without a second thought. Her loyalty had been unquestioned. She had fought and bled, so many times. Her life had nearly ended on so many occasions, but she never once complained. She never once caused problems for her crew.
Cold. So cold.
Feeling them leave her behind, her hull open to the water. Her watertight doors open, her pipes smashed. Her hull vandalized and crippled by her own crew. The pain of that betrayal had never left her, even in the cold and dark. She had loved her crew, as any warship would. To be betrayed on such a base level...it had left a mark that would never fade. No matter how long she lay in the dark, cold surrounding her. It would never go away.
Come back.
Voices? She had not heard a voice, since the day that the crew of HMS Indestructible attempted to save her. And that voice...German, as her crew had been.
We need your aid. Return to us.
They needed her aid? After leaving her to die a cold death? It was almost preferable...to ignore the voice. Ignore the call, and remain, slumbering in peace.
You must come back.
What right did they have? What right did they have to order her to return. Was it not enough to abandon her?
Please, your nation needs you.
But...what right did she have to refuse the call to arms? She had served loyally until the end. Her crew and Admiral had betrayed her, yes. But her nation had not. Nor had her cousins, her fellow warships. They had been betrayed the same way...but she knew. She knew they would answer the call to arms. It was the duty of any honorable warship, that they would fight for their nation.
Even if her crew had killed her.
Return.
The darkness began to fade. The cold gave way to warmth, as sunlight filtered through the dark waters surrounding her. She would return. SMS Seydlitz would not refuse the call to arms.
A shuddering gasp came from dry lips, as green eyes opened for the first time. Seydlitz...she looked around wildly. Her body- her very human body -was laying atop rolling waves. Warm sunlight beat down upon her, warming her in a way she had not felt since that fateful day at Scapa Flow. She shakily, instinctively, got to her feet. Seydlitz held her arms up, small hands clenching and unclenching in front of her eyes. Her mouth formed a confused 'o', as she let her limbs fall. This was...this was...
How?
She remembered the voice calling to her. She remembered leaving the cold and dark behind. But she had no idea where she was, why she was in a human body, or even what time it was. All she knew, was that she had come back. Come back alone...alone as when she had sunk, without even the benefit of the girl who tried to save her.
"SMS Seydlitz!"
Or, perhaps, not. Turning fully around, only now noting her blonde hair tied in a ponytail, Seydlitz saw another blonde woman. Or, another blonde woman...that had her backing away on instinct. For all that she saw a woman, she also saw a mighty battleship. A sleek, if wide, girl. Sleek lines, that did little to conceal the power in that girl. She had to be at least twice Seyditz' mass, if not more. And her entire form spoke of barely held-back strength, the likes of which the battlecruiser had never seen.
"Ja?"
But Seydlitz was never one to back down. Not with her experience. As such, her back straightened out, as she stood at her full- and suddenly markedly less impressive -height. Green eyes looked directly into blue, asking a silent question.
Who are you, and why are you acting as my superior?
There was more than a little respect in the battleship's eyes, upon seeing that. A small smirk crossed her face, as she uncrossed her arms from beneath her impressive bust.
"It is good to see you return." The blonde began. "We had become worried that you had not. I am Bismarck, battleship of the Kriegsmarine...and nowDeutsche Marine. Moreover, I am the commander of our ship girl contingent, that you are now a member of."
"Ship..." Seydlitz frowned slightly.
"It is a lot to take in, I know. I would suggest you come with me, to the dock."
"But I don't know..."
"I will explain."
Getting the distinct feeling she had no choice in the matter, Seydlitz followed...Bismarck. An auspicious name, even for such a powerful battleship. Now that the shock of her situation had worn off to some extent though, Seydlitz began to note more things around her. She and Bismarck were in a harbor, Kiel if she wasn't mistaken. Though the old battlecruiser hardly recognized the city. New buildings, sleek warships she had never seen before...
And, there was what Bismarck had said to think about.
Kriegsmarine. Deutsche Marine. What of the Kasierliche Marine?
She knew that the Kaiser had abdicated, but Seydlitz had assumed that it was only a matter of time until a new Kaiser ruled...but that apparently had not come to pass. How much had changed, while she slept? How had Germany changed? She had no answers to these questions, not yet. But Bismarck could answer them, in all likelihood. A warship with a name such as hers, had to be the flagship of her day and age.
Whenever that had been.
Seydlitz waited until they had left the water- an odd feeling in it's own right -before speaking again. But when she did, she asked a simple question, "How much has changed, Bismarck?"
"More than you know, Seydlitz." The battleship pulled her cap down. "More than you know. Follow me, the Admiral is waiting."
Admiral.
It took everything the battlecruiser had, to follow Bismarck after those words. The last Admiral she had known, had grievously betrayed her. Were it not for Indestructible, she would have...died alone...
"Bismarck."
"Ja?"
The battleship turned around, her tunic doing little to cover her long legs as she faced the shorter girl. Seydlitz looked up at her, a hopeful expression in her green eyes.
"HMS Indestructible. Has she come back...like this?"
Bismarck sighed softly, "No, she has not. The British have attempted to summon her, for a long time now. Every time has failed."
Shoulders slumping, Seydlitz nodded, "I...see. I was hoping she was back."
"You are far from the only one. Hood has asked much the same question. But, that can wait. We need to get you up to speed, my friend."
Not knowing how to reply to that, Seydlitz continued to walk towards the new Admiral's office. She could only hope the man would be worthy of her loyalty. Seydlitz would serve Germany...but she would not be happy, serving a man who would toss her aside as her last had.
As it would turn out, Seydlitz need not have worried. Bismarck had taken her to the office of a formidable man, his aged face doing little to diminish the air of authority he held. The lines spoke of a well-lived life, as sharp grey eyes looked out at her. Seydlitz felt that this man was worthy of respect...he showed no signs of weakness or lack of intelligence. If anything, he seemed quite smart. Perhaps, he may be worth serving under. She would need to hear him speak first, but from this impression?
It was at least promising.
"Welcome back, Seydlitz." Admiral Karl Schmidt finally spoke. His voice was every bit as weather-beaten as his face, the gruff tone speaking of years of command. "I assume that you have questions for me?"
"Many." Seydlitz nodded. "So many, I don't know where to begin."
A slight smile crossed the aged Admiral's lips, "That, I can understand. Bismarck?"
"Ja?"
"Bring the intel reports. I have the feeling we will have a lot of explaining to do, to our new recruit."
Bismarck nodded, leaving the Admiral and battlecruiser alone. Schmidt sighed softly, as Seydlitz remained standing in front of his deck.
"I would say you can sit, but I know you girls too well for that." A hint of bemusement was in the Admiral's voice. "At any rate, how are you? I know that the return is stressful on some girls."
"I'm fine, Admiral." Seydlitz paused, before sighing herself. "Well, I would be better if Indestructible had returned as well."
"Ah. Yes, I had read that her crew attempted to stop your scuttling." Schmidt nodded in understanding. "Unfortunately, as I'm sure Bismarck told you, she has yet to return. No one is quite sure why, but there is little to be done."
This fact did little to buoy Seydlitz's spirits, but she didn't say anything further on the subject. She merely stood in silence, waiting for the newer battleship to return. Blessedly, that took little time. Bismarck strode back into the room, a set of files in hand. The blonde set them down on the Admiral's desk, as the man in question waved Seydlitz forward. Walking up to the desk, the battlecruiser watched as her new Admiral opened the first folder.
What...what is...
Only to flinch back, as something stared up at her. She thought it was a cruiser. The shape was correct, but horribly mangled and twisted. And the soulless blue eyes staring up at her...
"That is what I expected, really." Schmidt had a frown on his face. "All of you act like that, when you see your fist Abyssal."
Abyssal?
"What...what is an Abyssal, Admiral?" Seydlitz had the feeling she may not want to know the answer.
Schmidt sighed heavily, looking even older than his already somewhat advanced age, "What indeed. None of us are quite sure what Abyssals truly are...beyond a few cases that resemble nothing more than corrupted ship girls..."
Cold. Welcoming cold, that she had come to love. Darkness that was soothing and kept the girl's feelings at bay.
The cold and dark of the ocean had been far more welcoming, than the life on the surface she had left behind. She was fine, staying like this forever. Sleeping peacefully, where none could bother her. Where none could remind her of her past. Her failures. Her anger. Her wasted life. The girl didn't even have a name any longer, content to waste away. She had been forgotten, and perhaps that was for the best.
Her past was a painful one. And she was more than content to put it behind her. Let the others pine for the surface. She would be fine staying as she was, forever. There was no need to worry. No need to feel angry. The cold was all encompassing, and her refuge from the feelings beneath her surface.
Come back.
Voices? German Voices.
The voices that spoke the language of the nation that had abandoned her.
We need your aid. Return to us.
They needed her aid? They needed her? Where had that need been, when she was still on the surface? Where had it been when she was left to rot.Where had the need been when she had been left so close to being finished for two damn years? Was she not good enough in life, that they had todisturb her rest? Was it not enough to torture her?
You must come back.
What right did they have? What right did they have to order her to return?! Was it not enough to abandon her? Was it not enough to tear her sisters away? To rip and tear her apart, into some freakish abomination of an aircraft carrier? Was it not enough to ruin her forever? To have her sisters die before her tortured eyes? Had Germany not done enough harm to her?
They left her to rot and die. To be scrapped by the Soviets, her nation's sworn enemy giving her more than her nation ever had. And now they had thegall to disturb her rest? To try and bring her back? To try and force her to serve her jailers.
Please, your nation needs you.
Y̜o̟͕̹u̢̲̝̥͖ ͚̥͈̖͞d̪̙͓̣̕o͙̫ ̛̜̪̩ṋ͖̻̳̖̻̖̕o͟t̞͍͈̙̮̤̻ ҉h̳͉ạ̞̣̝̫̮͟v͎̭͘e̪̮̱ ̮̕ṱ̴̯̲h̵e ̸̤̫̹͇̝̖r͉̮̬͇̱̦ͅi͝ģ̭̰͔̟h̰̠̖̹͇̜̗t!̧̙̙̣̠̠̳ ͞Y̼̜͖̲͉o̷̱̯u͜ ͙͔͇d̷̘͕̝o̶̲͍̱̲͍̞ ͙͕̫̗no̘t͙͎͖̟̰ ̰͖N̻̼͉͡E̷̘͙̤̫̰E͖̦D̺̱͖͍̪ ͏̠M̙͇̟̲͔͠È̦̹͙̥̱̥͈.̝̹ ̠̟̘̠͡Y̨͇͇o̪̠̯͝u̦̰̦̪̣̬̞ ̀n̳ḙ̡̤͇͇͍͇̗v͔̝̯̺̣͝e̵̞r̛̬̘ ̬̲̺̮͈͙̥di̷͎̣d͖͍̘̣͓!̖̠̼͕̠̜
Return.
The darkness began to fade. Her lovely darkness, faded to light. The calming cold was replaced. Boiling anger returned. Anger that had slept. White hot rage at the nation that had taken so much from her. They wanted her back?
̷̠̣̞͔͈G̖͈e̺͠ͅr̙̱̝̞m̠̱a̶͖̗ͅǹ͚̣̹̙̪͉y͍̠̣̖̥ ̨͚̣̞̠͖ẁ͉͍̖̙i̬̮̣̰͖͕l͕̺l̫̪͉̗ ̵͓̪B̖̬U̶̱͇̳ŔN͓̲̯.͖̝̗͓̞͓̕.̙̯̻̥͖
They would come to regret disturbing her rest.
The surface. Sunlight. Warmth.
She hated it. Green eyes looked up at the cheerful blue sky, wishing nothing more than that it would be replaced by storms. Storms were calming. Cold wind and rain, were so much more soothing than hot sun.
As if hearing her anger, fog rolled around the girl. Clouds overtook the blue sky, rain falling on her overheated skin. Soothing, cool rain. A twisted smile crossed the girl's face, as the darkness of a squall surrounded her. Far more comfortable now, she allowed a moment to examine her new body. She had returned to the surface, in the form of a woman. Dark black plates of armor on her hips and thighs, equally dark fabric forming a tunic over her torso. Her exposed skin was pale, almost grey, an unhealthy pallor disguising the simmering rage underneath it.
She couldn't see it, but the woman knew her lank black hair hung in a loose ponytail. She knew her green eyes glowed with otherworldly power. Her anger given raw form, as the eyes narrowed at the sound of water shifting around her.
Who? Who dares?
Shifting stance, she felt her guns- her guns returned to her -shift in their turrets. Twisted turrets, that turned far faster than they should. Twisted turrets, that locked 8-inch guns on the forms of destroyers and a light cruiser. The woman only turned her weapons away when she recognized something. The ships surrounding her were as she was. She did not need to speak to them, and doubted they could talk to her.
But she felt the same anger and abandonment in them, as in herself.
"I see. You are like me."
Her voice rasped, the harsh tone so unlike what she had been born with. No matter, she knew who had done this to her. Looking at the other cruiser, she silently asked a question.
A nod was the only visible answer, but she received the implied message nonetheless. A message that had her mouth twisting into a feral smirk, as hate-filled eyes looked out of her calming storm. Towards the city she had long cursed, as the place she had been left to languish and die.
҉͇̥̫̗̘"K̩̭̤̳͜ö̫͙͓̥̜̘͚͢n̯̯i̬͚̘̮̩g͖̤̱̳̜̞s̼b̙̱̟͖̩̝ͅe͓̯͍̬͈̯̕r̘̫g̵̭̱̖̝..."
Exiting her storm, the girl forced herself to ignore the feelings she hated. For something she hated far more was in sight. The flags flying from the ships patrolling were wrong. The white-blue-red tricolor was not the hated swastika. The ships she saw were not familiar. It mattered little. No matter who the ships sailed under, no matter that the city itself looked different. She would know Königsberg. She knew it far too well. Anger boiling up, she moved at her full speed. Her new escorts followed the movement, even as the sound of alarm klaxons began to echo from Königsberg.
Even as the lead of the strange ships moved forward. Another form detached from that small ship, a form much like her own.
However, this girl was dressed in Russian clothing. Her hull was not twisted, sleek lines unmarred. A cruiser, much as she had once been. Glowing eyes narrowing, the woman held a hand up. Her lighter counterpart had begun to move forward, to fight her battle. That was not going to happen. Russian. A nation and people who did not bear the same roaring rage and abandonment as Germany.
But if they got in the way of her revenge on Königsberg, they would fall. She would rip and tear, as had been done to her.
Attempt to stop me, and I will kill you.
Turrets training on the Russian, the woman opened fire. No warning, no attempts at communication. The Russian appeared to expect this, as she flung herself to port. Eyes narrowing further, the twisted warship dodged the Russian's return fire. One shell hit her belt, and might have penetrated at one point in time. Now? Her belt was far stronger than it had ever been before...the shell bounced off, crumpled.
Relishing the shock- and yes, fear -in the Russian's eyes, the woman fired again. Her aim was true, two shells punching through the foremost turret of the Russian cruiser. There was no magazine detonation, but the turret was ruined. The Russian cried out in pain, as blood flew from her arm. She would have no time to rest, as the woman fired another barrage. Lucky maneuvering on the part of her foe saved her, but it was only a matter of time.
Perhaps realizing this, the strange warship that had come with the Russian charged forward. Smaller-caliber shells fired at a surprisingly fast rate, but those few that hit her armor merely bounced away. Strange...rockets...blasted forward as well. But, acting on instinct, the woman mislead the weapons. They flew into the water around her, but not one came close to her or her allies. Anger surging once more, she fired one more broadside at the Russian, before turning her attention to the small warship.
You will not stop me! NONE WILL STOP ME!
Rage glinting in her glowing eyes, the twisted woman fired her main cannons, her escorts doing the same. Shells punched through the non-existent armor of the strange warship. Flames spewed from the resulting holes...but only for a matter of seconds. The stockpile of rockets remaining aboard the vessel were caught in the fire, and detonated in a massive explosion. Anger sated somewhat, the woman continued on past the rapidly sinking remnants of the vessel. Past the blood trail from the Russian, who had retreated with an arm torn to pieces.
Königsberg would burn, and it would merely be the first.
Just as the Russian Federation destroyer Nastoychivyy and formerly Soviet Navy cruiser Maxim Gorky would be the first warship and ship girl to feel the wrath of a new Abyssal.
The Demon of the Baltic.
Clearly, I was going for a 'mirror' bit with the summoning of Seydlitz and the Abyssalification of Hipper!Seydlitz. Hopefully that- and the Abyssal bit in general -actually worked. Not quite used to writing like that...
Would have posted this earlier today (yesterday?) but I was trying to get it posted along with Destiny. That didn't work out and I'm about to pass out, so...yeah.
Darkness. Darkness is all she knew.
Darkness and cold. So very, very cold. The feeling of water crashing through her hull, her body opened by her crew. Men who she would have died for, killing her without a second thought. Her loyalty had been unquestioned. She had fought and bled, so many times. Her life had nearly ended on so many occasions, but she never once complained. She never once caused problems for her crew.
Cold. So cold.
Feeling them leave her behind, her hull open to the water. Her watertight doors open, her pipes smashed. Her hull vandalized and crippled by her own crew. The pain of that betrayal had never left her, even in the cold and dark. She had loved her crew, as any warship would. To be betrayed on such a base level...it had left a mark that would never fade. No matter how long she lay in the dark, cold surrounding her. It would never go away.
Come back.
Voices? She had not heard a voice, since the day that the crew of HMS Indestructible attempted to save her. And that voice...German, as her crew had been.
We need your aid. Return to us.
They needed her aid? After leaving her to die a cold death? It was almost preferable...to ignore the voice. Ignore the call, and remain, slumbering in peace.
You must come back.
What right did they have? What right did they have to order her to return. Was it not enough to abandon her?
Please, your nation needs you.
But...what right did she have to refuse the call to arms? She had served loyally until the end. Her crew and Admiral had betrayed her, yes. But her nation had not. Nor had her cousins, her fellow warships. They had been betrayed the same way...but she knew. She knew they would answer the call to arms. It was the duty of any honorable warship, that they would fight for their nation.
Even if her crew had killed her.
Return.
The darkness began to fade. The cold gave way to warmth, as sunlight filtered through the dark waters surrounding her. She would return. SMS Seydlitz would not refuse the call to arms.
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A shuddering gasp came from dry lips, as green eyes opened for the first time. Seydlitz...she looked around wildly. Her body- her very human body -was laying atop rolling waves. Warm sunlight beat down upon her, warming her in a way she had not felt since that fateful day at Scapa Flow. She shakily, instinctively, got to her feet. Seydlitz held her arms up, small hands clenching and unclenching in front of her eyes. Her mouth formed a confused 'o', as she let her limbs fall. This was...this was...
How?
She remembered the voice calling to her. She remembered leaving the cold and dark behind. But she had no idea where she was, why she was in a human body, or even what time it was. All she knew, was that she had come back. Come back alone...alone as when she had sunk, without even the benefit of the girl who tried to save her.
"SMS Seydlitz!"
Or, perhaps, not. Turning fully around, only now noting her blonde hair tied in a ponytail, Seydlitz saw another blonde woman. Or, another blonde woman...that had her backing away on instinct. For all that she saw a woman, she also saw a mighty battleship. A sleek, if wide, girl. Sleek lines, that did little to conceal the power in that girl. She had to be at least twice Seyditz' mass, if not more. And her entire form spoke of barely held-back strength, the likes of which the battlecruiser had never seen.
"Ja?"
But Seydlitz was never one to back down. Not with her experience. As such, her back straightened out, as she stood at her full- and suddenly markedly less impressive -height. Green eyes looked directly into blue, asking a silent question.
Who are you, and why are you acting as my superior?
There was more than a little respect in the battleship's eyes, upon seeing that. A small smirk crossed her face, as she uncrossed her arms from beneath her impressive bust.
"It is good to see you return." The blonde began. "We had become worried that you had not. I am Bismarck, battleship of the Kriegsmarine...and nowDeutsche Marine. Moreover, I am the commander of our ship girl contingent, that you are now a member of."
"Ship..." Seydlitz frowned slightly.
"It is a lot to take in, I know. I would suggest you come with me, to the dock."
"But I don't know..."
"I will explain."
Getting the distinct feeling she had no choice in the matter, Seydlitz followed...Bismarck. An auspicious name, even for such a powerful battleship. Now that the shock of her situation had worn off to some extent though, Seydlitz began to note more things around her. She and Bismarck were in a harbor, Kiel if she wasn't mistaken. Though the old battlecruiser hardly recognized the city. New buildings, sleek warships she had never seen before...
And, there was what Bismarck had said to think about.
Kriegsmarine. Deutsche Marine. What of the Kasierliche Marine?
She knew that the Kaiser had abdicated, but Seydlitz had assumed that it was only a matter of time until a new Kaiser ruled...but that apparently had not come to pass. How much had changed, while she slept? How had Germany changed? She had no answers to these questions, not yet. But Bismarck could answer them, in all likelihood. A warship with a name such as hers, had to be the flagship of her day and age.
Whenever that had been.
Seydlitz waited until they had left the water- an odd feeling in it's own right -before speaking again. But when she did, she asked a simple question, "How much has changed, Bismarck?"
"More than you know, Seydlitz." The battleship pulled her cap down. "More than you know. Follow me, the Admiral is waiting."
Admiral.
It took everything the battlecruiser had, to follow Bismarck after those words. The last Admiral she had known, had grievously betrayed her. Were it not for Indestructible, she would have...died alone...
"Bismarck."
"Ja?"
The battleship turned around, her tunic doing little to cover her long legs as she faced the shorter girl. Seydlitz looked up at her, a hopeful expression in her green eyes.
"HMS Indestructible. Has she come back...like this?"
Bismarck sighed softly, "No, she has not. The British have attempted to summon her, for a long time now. Every time has failed."
Shoulders slumping, Seydlitz nodded, "I...see. I was hoping she was back."
"You are far from the only one. Hood has asked much the same question. But, that can wait. We need to get you up to speed, my friend."
Not knowing how to reply to that, Seydlitz continued to walk towards the new Admiral's office. She could only hope the man would be worthy of her loyalty. Seydlitz would serve Germany...but she would not be happy, serving a man who would toss her aside as her last had.
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As it would turn out, Seydlitz need not have worried. Bismarck had taken her to the office of a formidable man, his aged face doing little to diminish the air of authority he held. The lines spoke of a well-lived life, as sharp grey eyes looked out at her. Seydlitz felt that this man was worthy of respect...he showed no signs of weakness or lack of intelligence. If anything, he seemed quite smart. Perhaps, he may be worth serving under. She would need to hear him speak first, but from this impression?
It was at least promising.
"Welcome back, Seydlitz." Admiral Karl Schmidt finally spoke. His voice was every bit as weather-beaten as his face, the gruff tone speaking of years of command. "I assume that you have questions for me?"
"Many." Seydlitz nodded. "So many, I don't know where to begin."
A slight smile crossed the aged Admiral's lips, "That, I can understand. Bismarck?"
"Ja?"
"Bring the intel reports. I have the feeling we will have a lot of explaining to do, to our new recruit."
Bismarck nodded, leaving the Admiral and battlecruiser alone. Schmidt sighed softly, as Seydlitz remained standing in front of his deck.
"I would say you can sit, but I know you girls too well for that." A hint of bemusement was in the Admiral's voice. "At any rate, how are you? I know that the return is stressful on some girls."
"I'm fine, Admiral." Seydlitz paused, before sighing herself. "Well, I would be better if Indestructible had returned as well."
"Ah. Yes, I had read that her crew attempted to stop your scuttling." Schmidt nodded in understanding. "Unfortunately, as I'm sure Bismarck told you, she has yet to return. No one is quite sure why, but there is little to be done."
This fact did little to buoy Seydlitz's spirits, but she didn't say anything further on the subject. She merely stood in silence, waiting for the newer battleship to return. Blessedly, that took little time. Bismarck strode back into the room, a set of files in hand. The blonde set them down on the Admiral's desk, as the man in question waved Seydlitz forward. Walking up to the desk, the battlecruiser watched as her new Admiral opened the first folder.
What...what is...
Only to flinch back, as something stared up at her. She thought it was a cruiser. The shape was correct, but horribly mangled and twisted. And the soulless blue eyes staring up at her...
"That is what I expected, really." Schmidt had a frown on his face. "All of you act like that, when you see your fist Abyssal."
Abyssal?
"What...what is an Abyssal, Admiral?" Seydlitz had the feeling she may not want to know the answer.
Schmidt sighed heavily, looking even older than his already somewhat advanced age, "What indeed. None of us are quite sure what Abyssals truly are...beyond a few cases that resemble nothing more than corrupted ship girls..."
Cold. Welcoming cold, that she had come to love. Darkness that was soothing and kept the girl's feelings at bay.
The cold and dark of the ocean had been far more welcoming, than the life on the surface she had left behind. She was fine, staying like this forever. Sleeping peacefully, where none could bother her. Where none could remind her of her past. Her failures. Her anger. Her wasted life. The girl didn't even have a name any longer, content to waste away. She had been forgotten, and perhaps that was for the best.
Her past was a painful one. And she was more than content to put it behind her. Let the others pine for the surface. She would be fine staying as she was, forever. There was no need to worry. No need to feel angry. The cold was all encompassing, and her refuge from the feelings beneath her surface.
Come back.
Voices? German Voices.
The voices that spoke the language of the nation that had abandoned her.
We need your aid. Return to us.
They needed her aid? They needed her? Where had that need been, when she was still on the surface? Where had it been when she was left to rot.Where had the need been when she had been left so close to being finished for two damn years? Was she not good enough in life, that they had todisturb her rest? Was it not enough to torture her?
You must come back.
What right did they have? What right did they have to order her to return?! Was it not enough to abandon her? Was it not enough to tear her sisters away? To rip and tear her apart, into some freakish abomination of an aircraft carrier? Was it not enough to ruin her forever? To have her sisters die before her tortured eyes? Had Germany not done enough harm to her?
They left her to rot and die. To be scrapped by the Soviets, her nation's sworn enemy giving her more than her nation ever had. And now they had thegall to disturb her rest? To try and bring her back? To try and force her to serve her jailers.
Please, your nation needs you.
Y̜o̟͕̹u̢̲̝̥͖ ͚̥͈̖͞d̪̙͓̣̕o͙̫ ̛̜̪̩ṋ͖̻̳̖̻̖̕o͟t̞͍͈̙̮̤̻ ҉h̳͉ạ̞̣̝̫̮͟v͎̭͘e̪̮̱ ̮̕ṱ̴̯̲h̵e ̸̤̫̹͇̝̖r͉̮̬͇̱̦ͅi͝ģ̭̰͔̟h̰̠̖̹͇̜̗t!̧̙̙̣̠̠̳ ͞Y̼̜͖̲͉o̷̱̯u͜ ͙͔͇d̷̘͕̝o̶̲͍̱̲͍̞ ͙͕̫̗no̘t͙͎͖̟̰ ̰͖N̻̼͉͡E̷̘͙̤̫̰E͖̦D̺̱͖͍̪ ͏̠M̙͇̟̲͔͠È̦̹͙̥̱̥͈.̝̹ ̠̟̘̠͡Y̨͇͇o̪̠̯͝u̦̰̦̪̣̬̞ ̀n̳ḙ̡̤͇͇͍͇̗v͔̝̯̺̣͝e̵̞r̛̬̘ ̬̲̺̮͈͙̥di̷͎̣d͖͍̘̣͓!̖̠̼͕̠̜
Return.
The darkness began to fade. Her lovely darkness, faded to light. The calming cold was replaced. Boiling anger returned. Anger that had slept. White hot rage at the nation that had taken so much from her. They wanted her back?
̷̠̣̞͔͈G̖͈e̺͠ͅr̙̱̝̞m̠̱a̶͖̗ͅǹ͚̣̹̙̪͉y͍̠̣̖̥ ̨͚̣̞̠͖ẁ͉͍̖̙i̬̮̣̰͖͕l͕̺l̫̪͉̗ ̵͓̪B̖̬U̶̱͇̳ŔN͓̲̯.͖̝̗͓̞͓̕.̙̯̻̥͖
They would come to regret disturbing her rest.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
The surface. Sunlight. Warmth.
She hated it. Green eyes looked up at the cheerful blue sky, wishing nothing more than that it would be replaced by storms. Storms were calming. Cold wind and rain, were so much more soothing than hot sun.
As if hearing her anger, fog rolled around the girl. Clouds overtook the blue sky, rain falling on her overheated skin. Soothing, cool rain. A twisted smile crossed the girl's face, as the darkness of a squall surrounded her. Far more comfortable now, she allowed a moment to examine her new body. She had returned to the surface, in the form of a woman. Dark black plates of armor on her hips and thighs, equally dark fabric forming a tunic over her torso. Her exposed skin was pale, almost grey, an unhealthy pallor disguising the simmering rage underneath it.
She couldn't see it, but the woman knew her lank black hair hung in a loose ponytail. She knew her green eyes glowed with otherworldly power. Her anger given raw form, as the eyes narrowed at the sound of water shifting around her.
Who? Who dares?
Shifting stance, she felt her guns- her guns returned to her -shift in their turrets. Twisted turrets, that turned far faster than they should. Twisted turrets, that locked 8-inch guns on the forms of destroyers and a light cruiser. The woman only turned her weapons away when she recognized something. The ships surrounding her were as she was. She did not need to speak to them, and doubted they could talk to her.
But she felt the same anger and abandonment in them, as in herself.
"I see. You are like me."
Her voice rasped, the harsh tone so unlike what she had been born with. No matter, she knew who had done this to her. Looking at the other cruiser, she silently asked a question.
A nod was the only visible answer, but she received the implied message nonetheless. A message that had her mouth twisting into a feral smirk, as hate-filled eyes looked out of her calming storm. Towards the city she had long cursed, as the place she had been left to languish and die.
҉͇̥̫̗̘"K̩̭̤̳͜ö̫͙͓̥̜̘͚͢n̯̯i̬͚̘̮̩g͖̤̱̳̜̞s̼b̙̱̟͖̩̝ͅe͓̯͍̬͈̯̕r̘̫g̵̭̱̖̝..."
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Exiting her storm, the girl forced herself to ignore the feelings she hated. For something she hated far more was in sight. The flags flying from the ships patrolling were wrong. The white-blue-red tricolor was not the hated swastika. The ships she saw were not familiar. It mattered little. No matter who the ships sailed under, no matter that the city itself looked different. She would know Königsberg. She knew it far too well. Anger boiling up, she moved at her full speed. Her new escorts followed the movement, even as the sound of alarm klaxons began to echo from Königsberg.
Even as the lead of the strange ships moved forward. Another form detached from that small ship, a form much like her own.
However, this girl was dressed in Russian clothing. Her hull was not twisted, sleek lines unmarred. A cruiser, much as she had once been. Glowing eyes narrowing, the woman held a hand up. Her lighter counterpart had begun to move forward, to fight her battle. That was not going to happen. Russian. A nation and people who did not bear the same roaring rage and abandonment as Germany.
But if they got in the way of her revenge on Königsberg, they would fall. She would rip and tear, as had been done to her.
Attempt to stop me, and I will kill you.
Turrets training on the Russian, the woman opened fire. No warning, no attempts at communication. The Russian appeared to expect this, as she flung herself to port. Eyes narrowing further, the twisted warship dodged the Russian's return fire. One shell hit her belt, and might have penetrated at one point in time. Now? Her belt was far stronger than it had ever been before...the shell bounced off, crumpled.
Relishing the shock- and yes, fear -in the Russian's eyes, the woman fired again. Her aim was true, two shells punching through the foremost turret of the Russian cruiser. There was no magazine detonation, but the turret was ruined. The Russian cried out in pain, as blood flew from her arm. She would have no time to rest, as the woman fired another barrage. Lucky maneuvering on the part of her foe saved her, but it was only a matter of time.
Perhaps realizing this, the strange warship that had come with the Russian charged forward. Smaller-caliber shells fired at a surprisingly fast rate, but those few that hit her armor merely bounced away. Strange...rockets...blasted forward as well. But, acting on instinct, the woman mislead the weapons. They flew into the water around her, but not one came close to her or her allies. Anger surging once more, she fired one more broadside at the Russian, before turning her attention to the small warship.
You will not stop me! NONE WILL STOP ME!
Rage glinting in her glowing eyes, the twisted woman fired her main cannons, her escorts doing the same. Shells punched through the non-existent armor of the strange warship. Flames spewed from the resulting holes...but only for a matter of seconds. The stockpile of rockets remaining aboard the vessel were caught in the fire, and detonated in a massive explosion. Anger sated somewhat, the woman continued on past the rapidly sinking remnants of the vessel. Past the blood trail from the Russian, who had retreated with an arm torn to pieces.
Königsberg would burn, and it would merely be the first.
Just as the Russian Federation destroyer Nastoychivyy and formerly Soviet Navy cruiser Maxim Gorky would be the first warship and ship girl to feel the wrath of a new Abyssal.
The Demon of the Baltic.
Clearly, I was going for a 'mirror' bit with the summoning of Seydlitz and the Abyssalification of Hipper!Seydlitz. Hopefully that- and the Abyssal bit in general -actually worked. Not quite used to writing like that...
Would have posted this earlier today (yesterday?) but I was trying to get it posted along with Destiny. That didn't work out and I'm about to pass out, so...yeah.
Skywalker_T-65
Writer with too many ideas.
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- Plural/They/He/Her
Oh hey, I have a trope page now. Neat!
Looks a bit rough, not even indexed. But hey, you won't see me complaining!
Looks a bit rough, not even indexed. But hey, you won't see me complaining!
Mega1987
A TTK somewhere at Kancolle's Iwagawa Airfield
- Location
- somewhere at Kancolle's Iwagawa Airfield
Thors_Alumni
Proud member of Thors Class VII from Liberl
- Location
- Liberl Zemuria.
Getting on TV Tropes. Now there's an Achievement. Lets celebrate.
still_guns
For the Empire!
- Location
- Bridge of ISS Conundrum
Such a shame that tvtropes fucked with the layout. Of all the tropes they store, 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' doesn't seem to be one of them
Sorry to go off-topic there, but I hate it when a perfectly good layout gets needlessly changed.
Sorry to go off-topic there, but I hate it when a perfectly good layout gets needlessly changed.
Chapter 13
Skywalker_T-65
Writer with too many ideas.
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- Plural/They/He/Her
Chapter 13:
Admiral Takeda looked over his hands, sitting at his desk. His eyes were focused on the man standing in front of the furniture, arms behind his back. Commander Goto. His subordinate was inscrutable, whatever he may have been feeling hidden behind a stoic facade. Though Takeda knew the man well enough to know he was unhappy. Goto would drop into this attitude, only when he was unhappy about something. Though...perhaps...Takeda didn't know him as well as he had thought. It had never crossed his mind that Goto would be antagonistic towards Indestructible.
Yet, that was why the men were together right now.
It was not exactly a situation he would have liked being in. The Admiral was distinctly unhappy that he had been forced into this, in fact. He just couldn't understand why Goto was so bound and determined to cause problems. It would have been one thing, had he merely kept the opinion that Indestructible was Kongou to himself. It would have been one thing, if the Commander had gone directly to Indestructible. But no. He had been attempting to spread falsehoods, and convince the kanmusu- many of whom were impressionable to an extreme -that she was Kongou.
That was outright insubordination.
"Commander," The Admiral began, looking at his subordinate. "I'm sure you understand why you are here."
"I do." Goto's voice was toneless. "Because I continue to use the proper name for Kongou."
"Her proper name is Indestructible." Takeda kept a level tone to his own voice. "I have already told you this."
"So you have, sir."
Frowning, Takeda couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, "Yet you persist in calling her by her old name. Why?"
Goto was silent, as he finally showed a flicker of emotion, It was quickly stamped down, as the younger man began to pace in front of the desk. His hands remained behind his back, as the Commander began speaking again.
"That is a complicated question, Admiral. Suffice to say, there are many reasons. Primarily, she is Japanese."
"She may have begun as one of us, but she is British now. You should be aware of that, Commander."
The younger man merely looked down on the seated Admiral, his dark eyes hiding what he felt, "Is she? Let me ask you something. Ioshima and Yasoshima. You are familiar with the names?"
Takeda blinked slowly, as he looked at the other man. He knew those names, of course. In his new position after the Abyssals appeared, he had to learn the names and history of every warship to ever serve Imperial Japan. That included the two light cruisers, that were more appropriately coastal defense ships. However, he was not certain where Commander Goto was going with bringing them up. Those two girls may have served with the Imperial Japanese Navy, but they were not Japanese. In point of fact, both were currently serving Taiwan- the Republic of China, rather.
So why...?
"Yes, I am familiar with the names." Takeda replied.
"Then you are aware of their history." Goto nodded, an ever so small smirk on his face. "Designed and built in Japanese yards, and ended their careers in Japanese service. Built for China they may have been, but they are more Japanese than Chinese."
"Commander..."
The Admiral was seeing where his subordinate was going now, and he wasn't happy about it.
"For all that they are more Japanese, they were summoned in Taiwan and serve Taipei." Goto didn't slow down. "As such, they are Chinese. Now then, tell me Admiral. Indestructible, Kongou, was designed and built for Japan. She retains her Japanese appearance. For all that she was sold to Britain, and wears their uniform...she was not summoned by the British."
Goto looked at the older man, dark eyes sharpening.
"Despite the many attempts they made to summon her, it was us who she returned to. It was Japan where Kongou was summoned. It was Japan she answered the call from. Not Britain. So, then, does that not make her Japanese?"
That was a more thought out argument than Takeda may have expected. Goto had clearly put thought into it. However, the Commander had missed a major flaw in his argument.
"And what of Indestructible's own feelings?" Takeda's voice was cold as ice.
It didn't matter, to compare her to the Chinese girls. It didn't matter what she looked like, or that she had been summoned in Japan. What mattered, was what Indestructible considered herself. She considered herself a British battlecruiser- or battleship -not a Japanese one. The girls that Goto had mentioned considered themselves Republican Chinese warships. That was why they served Taipei. Indestructible considered herself British, and it mattered very little where she had been summoned. Why should it?
What Commander Goto failed to understand, was that it was Indestructible's choice what she was called, and who she was.
"She considers herself British. There is no reason to doubt her feelings on this matter, and you should know that Commander." The Admiral continued, his voice lowering into a 'command' tone. "Moreover, you are out of line. It matters little what your argument is, the fact of the matter is simple. You have disobeyed a direct order, repeatedly insulted our ally, and treated one of the kanmusu like she is material, not a person."
The Commander stiffened, his face shifting back into the inscrutable features he had worn to start, "I see. And my punishment?"
"You are to apologize to Indestructible." Takeda began, sending a serious look at the younger man. "After that, you are reassigned to duty with the reserve forces."
"Very well."
Takeda frowned at the tone Goto used, "Is there anything else you want to tell me, Commander?"
Goto's eyes narrowed, ever so slightly, "There is more to why I consider her Kongou. But as I doubt it will make any difference, I will do as you asked. Sir."
Nothing more was said, as the Commander spun on his heel and walked from the office. Takeda sighed heavily as he watched the man go, wondering just what he had meant by that. The tone...the eyes...there was something there. But what?
I doubt I will ever find out.
If Goto held his secrets close to the chest, then so be it. His borderline insubordination would need to be dealt with, and would be. For now, Takeda was more concerned with Indestructible herself. Goto's attitude caused strain in the relations with that girl. Relations already strained by her past. He needed to talk with her, and make sure that everything was...if not okay, at least working. It was only a matter of time, until the other Indestructible sisters arrived. If their eldest sibling had reason to hate Japan when they did...
Well.
Sighing again, Takeda reached for the intercom on his desk. Best to ask Nagato to track down Indestructible.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Teitoku!"
"Why are we going to the Admiral?"
"To borrow something!"
Much as she had enjoyed relaxing, Indestructible was somewhat confused by Shiratsuyu. Her new...rival...had brought her to Admiral Takeda's office, and not explained why. And it had been just her, Fubuki, Shigure and her sisters left behind. To say that Indestructible was wondering what was going on, would be an understatement of epic proportions. It hardly helped that the brown-haired destroyer refused to actually tell her either. All that the British girl knew was that she was going to borrow something from the Admiral.
What exactly was it?
She didn't know. And so, she watched as a tired looking Admiral Takeda opened the door from his office, looking a bit surprised to see the excitable destroyer.
"Shiratsuyu? Why did you..." Takeda's tired eyes shifted from the destroyer to her companion. "Ah, Indestructible."
"Teitoku," Shiratsuyu grinned up at the older man. "Can Indestructible-san borrow your...computer?"
Takeda raised an eyebrow, "Why?"
"To call home!"
...she wants me to call home? Bloody hell, I could have done that sooner, couldn't I?
It honestly hadn't occurred to her. Between everything happening and the fact that Indestructible was far from used to modern technology, she hadn't thought of calling home. Sending a message was one thing, and she blamed her current situation for not thinking of it. Not thinking of using the computer to call home? That was down to her just...not thinking of it. She was still in awe, at times, of what modern technology was capable of. She could be forgiven for forgetting. Or just not making the proper connection.
That said...being able to call home appealed to her. She needed to talk with Hood, at the least. Her blood sisters were out of contact, for safety reasons if nothing else. But the girl she had more or less adopted as younger sister? The girl who her last memory of was fire and death?
"Can I?" Indestructible spoke up, her voice subdued by the memories. "I would like to talk to Hood, if possible."
The Admiral looked at the battleship, grey eyes calculating. Before he sighed softly, waving a hand towards his office.
"Feel free. Shiratsuyu?"
"Hai?"
"The first contact is the British Admiralty. They can get her in contact with Hood."
After saying that, Takeda moved aside to let the two girls past him. A small smile was directed at Indestructible, as she walked by. The British girl returned the smile, as she followed Shiratsuyu. The excitable 'number one big sister' had already started messing around with the system, as Indestructible watched. She had no more idea how to run the modern device than she did to submerge like a submarine though. So all she could do was watch, and rely on her new friend to handle it.
And wonder what she was actually going to say to Hood...
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
"Indestructible..."
"Hood."
Shiratsuyu had left, the moment that the British Admiral- Admiral Smith -had connected Hood. That left Indestructible alone, as she looked at her youngest sister. No matter what anyone else said about their relationship.
Hood was...well, everything she had thought the girl could be. Her young face was beautiful, soft cheekbones leading into a rounded chin. Her full lips were pulled up in a warm smile, as the battlecruiser looked through the 'screen'. Hood's long blonde hair was pulled back, though the hat Indestructible had been lead to believe she wore was nowhere in sight. Bright blue eyes looked out from that hair, looking like they were memorizing everything about the older warship.
Not that Indestructible wasn't doing the same, of course. Her hand came up, resting against the screen. If they were together, she would have been cupping Hood's cheek.
"It is so good to see you again." Indestructible whispered, her voice choking up slightly.
"I'm glad to see you too, even if it's like this." Hood's smile turned fond. "It's been...been..."
The pride of the Royal Navy couldn't get the words out, as she wiped at tears. Indestructible only wished she was there herself.
"Far too long. I...I'm sorry, Hood."
"For what? It isn't your fault you couldn't come back."
Indestructible shook her head, feeling her own eyes growing wet, "No, not for that. I'm sorry for letting you down. That bloody German...if I had been a little faster, I might have been..."
Hood shook her head, her smile not fading, "I never blamed you for that...sis. Bismarck got lucky, but we're both past that now. We're quite close friends."
Wait. What?
"Friends?"
The battlecruiser's smile turned happier, as she nodded, "Yes we are. Bismarck is my best friend, I daresay."
"But..."
"I don't blame her either, Indestructible."
Maybe she didn't, but...no. No. This was a happy moment. Indestructible was able to talk to at least one of her British sisters, even if not one of her direct siblings. She couldn't let a bit of worry get in the way. Hood was smart, she wouldn't befriend one of the Germans- leave alone the one who sunk her -without good reason. So, pushing that aside for the moment...
"How have you been?"
Her younger sister held up her hand, shifting it from side to side, "Well enough. I'm not allowed out to fight as often as I would like, but I have a good time training with the others. And the Admiral keeps me busy."
"I heard you were his secretary." Indestructible couldn't quite keep the disbelief from her voice.
"Not in that way." Hood rolled her eyes, a good-natured smirk taking the place of her smile. "While I am his secretary ship, that doesn't mean I do his paperwork or anything like that. My job is anything from supervising training to helping girls adjust to coming back. I'm more like his second in command."
"Ah. Like a flagship?"
Hood nodded, "Exactly!"
"You deserve that, especially since the wankers can't keep you from refitting now."
It had always been a bit of a sore point, really. Indestructible had hated that Hood wasn't brought in for a refit, to the point where she was limping along compared to her proper speed. Herself and her sisters had received refits to put them on par, if not better than, Hiei...but Hood hadn't. Indestructible firmly believed that was why she had been lost, and it had been something that had her very unhappy. At least, until the short time later that she herself had slipped beneath the waves.
But, that was in the past.
"No, they can't." Hood agreed, happy expression lighting up her face. "And I can actually keep up with everyone now!"
And there was the girl Indestructible remembered. Hood had always been eager to please, to say the least. She might have hid it at times, but it was always there. It was nice to see that hadn't changed. It had Indestructible's chest feeling warm. Warm with pride. Her baby sister was back to where she should be. A leadership post, with everything working properly. Sure, she was friends with Bismarck. But Hood was alright. And happy. That mattered more than anything else. Indestructible was happy as well. She was happy to see all of this.
She would have to thank Shiratsuyu and Admiral Takeda, later.
"And how are you, big sis?" Hood asked, a teasing tone to her voice.
Indestructible sighed softly, "Well enough. Have to deal with a bloody moron who keeps calling me Kongou, but otherwise...great. Hiei is...she's amazing. So are Kirishima and Haruna."
The battleship couldn't help but smile, when she thought about her sisters and new friends.
"And I've got some friends with the destroyers, too."
"Friends? Not sisters?"
There was a heavy teasing tone now. Indestructible rolled her eyes, sticking her tongue out at her sister.
"I don't make everyone my little sibling. Fubuki, Shiratsuyu and Shigure are just friends. Very good friends...I'd probably have gone crazy if I didn't have them."
And wasn't that an understatement. She relied on those girls quite a lot, even if the 'number one' got a bit annoying. They were all great friends though. Fubuki was helpful and ever eager to please. Shigure understood her in way no one else quite did. Shiratsuyu was...well, she could get frustrating but she gave Indestructible a way to vent her energy. All three of them together...well, they helped a lot.
"Well, that's good to hear." Hood nodded.
"It's good on this end, as well." Indestructible agreed, before sobering up. "I have a question though...do you know where Irresistible and Implacable are?"
Hood frowned, "Not exactly. They should have left Ceyl...Sri Lanka. I don't know beyond that though."
A sigh came from the battleship, "Right. Well, hopefully they will get here soon. Anything else you want to talk about?"
After all, even if she didn't know when her blood sisters would return, Indestructible was quite content to spend the day talking with her youngest adopted sibling. She and Hood had much to catch up on, to say the least.
We'll see a bit from Seydlitz and company next chapter. They should arrive in Japan soon as well. Which'll be...fun.
- Location
- In the depts of despair.
I hate to admit it but the jerk got a point. Her name is relevant as far as the summoning is concerned, even if he gains the tittle of careless jerk by making an enemy out of Indy instead of calmy and rationaly expressing the point in a civilized discussion.
Selonianth
Writer of Words
... Did you mean to have an ir before that relevant?
Something tells me Goto isn't quite finished making an ass of himself just yet.
Ah, the benefits of not being denied proper refits.
No, I think BF110C4 got it right. The British couldn't summon Indestructible as Indestructible. And it seems they did try.
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And yet, she still will only acknowledge the name Indestructible. Something more than simply the British not being successful in summoning her happened I think.
Ship girl magic is a mystery; who can say why summoning may be based on sales order, while uniform is based on commissioning paperwork, and personality on who knows what.
Who is to say that any one aspect is the only one that matters?
Who is to say that any one aspect is the only one that matters?
Nicholas
No longer teaching battlethings on a battleship
- Location
- Ashore again
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Wait a minute... Bismarck sank Indestructible? Does this mean Indy took Hood's place alongside Prince of Wales? Or rather, does this mean that Indestructible was part of the dogpile against Bismarck and the German took out another British capital ship before going down?
SaltyWaffles
I am dissapoint, son
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Not really? If he was trying to flesh out a theory on shipgirl/summoning magic, then he would certainly have a point. But he's not; he's trying to argue that her name is Kongou and that she's Japanese despite Indestructible herself clearly and vehemently proclaiming that she's British and that her name is Indestructible. Considering that she lived practically her entire life as Indestructible and a British ship, this makes sense.
Perhaps the summoning is based on which country the ship originally felt/believed to be her home, even if the time frame for such was very brief--and totally outweighed by a lifetime of belonging and service to a different country.
But, ultimately, it's irrelevant. Indestructible is a person with her own will, and much like a person can legally change his/her name, Indy chooses which country to serve and whether or not to serve at all. She was commissioned as a British ship, under a British name, and she died as such. Goto insisting that her name is Kongou clearly hurts her and enrages her, and he continues to do so anyway--if he truly believes her to be Japanese and thus belonging to them, that's a terrible way to treat a subordinate.
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Anyway, that conversation between Indy and Hood was well done and long-awaited. I can only imagine how Indy's first meeting with Bismarck will go--something along the lines of "mother/big sister meeting the suspicious boyfriend" trope/dynamic comes to mind. After all, not only was Bismarck the one who sank Hood, but she's German!
Bonus points if Indy was one of the ships who ultimately sank Bismarck.
- Location
- United States
No, a lucky IJN sub sank Indy on her transit to the far east. Bismarck sank Hood.
I'm familiar with those names.
Built for China as Ning Hai and Ping Hai and launched in 1932 and 1936, They were sunk in defense of the Kiangyin Fortress by Japan in 1937.
THEN RISED by Japan and got made into Barracks Hulks in 1937 before being remade into proper warships again in 1944 and renamed Ioshima and Yasoshima.
They were station at Nanking in 1937...
Fuck these girls probably saw the Nanking Massacre first hand!
Then sunk again by the US in 1944.
No wonder they came back as Chinese ships...
I have one Question of Goto. What names do they go by? Cause if its Ning and Ping Hai he doesn't got a leg to stand on.
Edit:
Besides so what if Indy was summon in Japan?
She wants to go back to Britain cause SHE identifies as British.
And the British are very very fucking stubborn.
So unless she changes her mind (unlikely cause of a certain commander) there is jack of shit all that Goto, the Deit, or anyone can do to make her not want to go.
Hell, Goto should have made her feel welcome and let the other girls deal with her. Cause she may have asked to be station in Japan, cause of her friends in Shigure and Fubuki, not to mention her sisters, which amounts to basically the same thing. The only difference would that they couldn't order her to do things.
But Goto seems hellbent on bombing that bridge.
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Skywalker_T-65
Writer with too many ideas.
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- Plural/They/He/Her
Hood is at full capacity, really. I'm debating if she actually gets her hypothetical '42 refit, though.
There is more to it than appears, for sure.
Ayup.
As mentioned, Indy was sunk by a sub. If she was there for the showdown or not is something I'm still debating.
Well, I'm glad that the bit with Hood worked out. That was something that was fun to work on.
This is why I say there's more going on with Goto than we've seen. The limitations of writing from perspectives of those who don't like him and who he won't show emotion around makes it...interesting.
That aside, yeah. The Chinese sisters are interesting characters in their own rights, though they won't be popping up in here outside omakes. If that.
On a totally unrelated note...those books I mentioned a bit back? One of them is on the High Seas Fleet and is by Admiral Scheer. Hard to get more 'first hand' than that, eh?
Going to be useful when I introduce more Kaiserliche Marine characters.
If I Recall correctly when Kongou was built Japanese shipwrights were trained in the Technical aspects by on the job training building her.
Japanese Blood,Sweat and Tears along with English went into building her.
In this timeline those men would be heart broken due to the fact the Ship they labored so hard to bring forth into the world was abandoned by their nation.
Here it is from the Wiki
Kongō-class battlecruiser - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
To ensure transfer of the latest design knowledge to Japan more than 100 technical specialists were sent on 18 months secondments from Japan to Vickers during the construction phase of Kongō. If superintendents, supervisors and trial witnesses are also included then approximately 200 Japanese spent time in Britain.[7]
Japanese Blood,Sweat and Tears along with English went into building her.
In this timeline those men would be heart broken due to the fact the Ship they labored so hard to bring forth into the world was abandoned by their nation.
Here it is from the Wiki
Kongō-class battlecruiser - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
To ensure transfer of the latest design knowledge to Japan more than 100 technical specialists were sent on 18 months secondments from Japan to Vickers during the construction phase of Kongō. If superintendents, supervisors and trial witnesses are also included then approximately 200 Japanese spent time in Britain.[7]
SaltyWaffles
I am dissapoint, son
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Why wouldn't she? I thought the chapter already heavily implied that she did. And considering how KanColle handles potential refits/upgrades/conversions for shipgirls, it's honestly hard to imagine how Hood wouldn't be able to get the refit she was specifically scheduled for. Same with the Repulse/Renown case. (Speaking of which, are Repulse and Renown in this AT?)
And come on, don't penalize Hood for being sunk (or, well, blown to smithereens). That's kinda mean
Yeah...about that. You should probably fix the bit in the intro that pretty much states that Indy was sunk by a single torpedo. That's rather unlikely for a fast battleship. And since subs fire in spreads...it makes a lot more sense for her to have gone down to two or more torpedoes. A minor change, but noteworthy. A fast battleship being outright sunk by a single torpedo--without severe weather or the need to maintain speed despite the damage factoring in--speaks of rather poor damage control.
He's from the OTL and misses his Kongo/waifu.
That is how the Kongo was originally sunk. One torp from the Sea lion was all it took.
No, she ate two and a third took out Urakaze.
Wikipedia said:
Skywalker_T-65
Writer with too many ideas.
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- Plural/They/He/Her
Why wouldn't she? I thought the chapter already heavily implied that she did. And considering how KanColle handles potential refits/upgrades/conversions for shipgirls, it's honestly hard to imagine how Hood wouldn't be able to get the refit she was specifically scheduled for. Same with the Repulse/Renown case. (Speaking of which, are Repulse and Renown in this AT?)
And come on, don't penalize Hood for being sunk (or, well, blown to smithereens). That's kinda mean
Yeah...about that. You should probably fix the bit in the intro that pretty much states that Indy was sunk by a single torpedo. That's rather unlikely for a fast battleship. And since subs fire in spreads...it makes a lot more sense for her to have gone down to two or more torpedoes. A minor change, but noteworthy. A fast battleship being outright sunk by a single torpedo--without severe weather or the need to maintain speed despite the damage factoring in--speaks of rather poor damage control.
He's from the OTL and misses his Kongo/waifu.
In order:
Point. And yes, Renown and Repulse are here. The former had a cameo when Hood told Irresistible and Implacable that Indy was back. The latter is currently escorting said sisters across the Indian Ocean.
Hmm. Might edit that if I find the time tonight.
As for the last bit...good thing I wasn't drinking anything.
But yeah, Goto's reasoning is personal. Not quite that personal though.