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Indestructible Spirit (Kancolle AU)

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Dirtnap said:
Quibble here, Wasp went up because her Avgas lines were still full. Her sinking lead to all carriers to purge their AvGas lines with inert CO2 prior to engaging.
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No, that was Lexington. Wasp was doomed because she got hit by several torpedoes at once and used an unarmored design in the first place.

Granted, Wasp probably didn't have any chance to purge her avgas lines either, since the attack via sub came as a complete surprise. But it was Lexington's example that spurred the practice of purging avgas lines in the face of an imminent attack.

Firefinder12-B said:
Plus we needed a fleet carrier in the Atlantic.

The lesser capable USS Ranger, when compared to the Lexs and Yorktowns, was ideal for it.

Here's some figures.

Ranger full load weighs in at 17,577 tons with a normal load of 76 planes and a max of 86, and a top speed of 29 knots. Armor 2 inches

Lexingtons= 43,000 tons, 78 planes and top speed of 33 knots. Armor 7 inches.

Yorktowns = 25,500 tons, 32 knots and 90 planes. Armor 4 inches

USS Wasp= 19,423 tons, 29 knots, and up to 100 planes. No armor or TDS.

The Ranger while carrying a similar number of planes was slower and had less armor then the other carriers besides Wasp who basic drop her armor for more planes. Which caused her to go up in flames from one hit.

But like I said we needed a Fleet carrier in the Atlantic, and Ranger was the best choice.

Remember it wasn't until nearly 1943 until the first light carriers came on line and by that time we were dropping Essexs like cookie cutters.

Why send an old carrier when the newer far more capable ones are available?
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Many problems with that logic.

Firstly, the US, GB, and France were nominal allies, or at least on friendly terms with each other. The obvious "potential enemies" were Japan, Germany, the USSR, and Italy.

Secondly, you're assuming that it's an either/or for building light carriers and fleet carriers. It's not. In particular, building escort carriers is just converting merchant ship hulls. They don't take the same facilities, expertise, or resources (for the most part). In the case of the Independence-class light carriers, they took a bunch of cruiser hulls under construction and converted them into light carriers--which did not interfere with fleet carrier construction in the slightest, nor would it have at any point in time.

EDIT: What the fuck, it cut out the third part of my post. Goddamn it. Basically, it was that concentration of force is key in carrier warfare, and having more fleet carriers than the enemy is a major advantage. The duties performed by Wasp and Ranger could have been performed just as well by escort carriers and light carriers. Ranger, despite being a little smaller and a little slower than the Yorktowns, was still a full-blown fleet carrier. Sadly, neither Wasp nor Ranger were really used like fleet carriers, even in the Atlantic, where they reigned supreme. Instead, they got stuck with convoy escort and aircraft ferrying duties, which is a massive fucking waste of a fleet carrier.
 
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On Ranger: why was Ranger kept off the front lines but not Wasp? Well, aside from all the other problems mentioned Ranger pitched so badly that she couldn't launch aircraft in seas the larger carriers could launch in. As well, Wasp benefitted from greater experience in weight management and carrier design.

Lengthening ships: actually, neither the Italians nor the Japanese lengthened their ships by inserting a plug amidships. Instead, they rebuilt the bow (Italians) or stern (Japanese).
 
SaltyWaffles said:
It was a bad compromise, really, at least in terms of how they used those extra fleet carriers; they used both Ranger and Wasp like escort carriers (at best) and plane ferries (at worst). Really, they could have simply built some seaplane tenders or escort carriers and used them in those roles rather than squander two fleet carriers.

Ranger wasn't that much smaller than the Yorktowns. And considering the timing of when Japan backed out of the Treaty and when Wasp was built, it's kind of hard to imagine why they didn't simply build Wasp like a Yorktown (or at close as possible to one).

And then there was the fact that the US had zero light carriers until well into WW2. The fact that Japan had several of them from the start was a major advantage for them.

Ultimately, it's rather alarming how often the US fleet carriers (ALL of them, not just Ranger and Wasp) got used for plane ferrying duties and nothing else (mainly in the first several months of the war). Wasting a fleet carrier on escorting a convoy that can only travel 15-17 knots is just...
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CV12Hornet said:
On Ranger: why was Ranger kept off the front lines but not Wasp? Well, aside from all the other problems mentioned Ranger pitched so badly that she couldn't launch aircraft in seas the larger carriers could launch in. As well, Wasp benefitted from greater experience in weight management and carrier design.

Lengthening ships: actually, neither the Italians nor the Japanese lengthened their ships by inserting a plug amidships. Instead, they rebuilt the bow (Italians) or stern (Japanese).
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One source I read - I think it was Eagle Against the Sun, but I'm not sure - said the reason Ranger was kept in the Atlantic was that her small size meant her antiaircraft armament was considered anemic for the attacks she was expected to face. Contrast Wasp, where despite the flaws in her design still had enough room to mount a decent AA suite.
 
Nicholas said:
One source I read - I think it was Eagle Against the Sun, but I'm not sure - said the reason Ranger was kept in the Atlantic was that her small size meant her antiaircraft armament was considered anemic for the attacks she was expected to face. Contrast Wasp, where despite the flaws in her design still had enough room to mount a decent AA suite.
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Organic fighter squadrons + radar = best AA defense

Besides, Ranger had a better torpedo defense...and armor...than Wasp, which had none at all (or close enough to it).

I mean, I understand the reasoning, it's just...backwards.
 
SaltyWaffles said:
Organic fighter squadrons + radar = best AA defense

Besides, Ranger had a better torpedo defense...and armor...than Wasp, which had none at all (or close enough to it).

I mean, I understand the reasoning, it's just...backwards.
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Problem is, the US Navy's fighter defenses were never able to stop all of a large air attack, which meant AA had to do some of the work. As such, Ranger's light AA would have been a problem against the inevitable leakers.

Protection-wise, I'd dispute the idea that Ranger had better protection. Yeah, she had a 2" belt, but that only covered the magazines, and 2 inches of armor is, well, it'd have trouble against 5" shells, is all I'm saying. And Wasp had a slightly thicker deck. and a thin belt that covered more of the ship. Also, Conway's entry on Wasp mentions this: "The solution adopted was a modified Ranger, in which both improved stability and improved protection were sought. There was no hope of obtaining underwater protection". Emphasis mine.

This suggests that Ranger's underwater protection was just as anemic as Wasp's.

Oh, and one more thing: there were plans to attach extra belt armor to Wasp in wartime. So, yeah, overall I'd put Wasp as the better-protected ship.
 
CV12Hornet said:
Problem is, the US Navy's fighter defenses were never able to stop all of a large air attack, which meant AA had to do some of the work. As such, Ranger's light AA would have been a problem against the inevitable leakers.
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Until 1944, no fighter defense/AA combination was good enough to stop all of a large air attack. However, fighters were still, by far, the most effective form of air defense, even in 1942.

It would have made a significant difference to have, say, Ranger hang further back from the enemy than the other fleet carriers, but still launch its fighters and Dauntlesses to provide CAP for said fleet carriers. Range wouldn't be an issue, since her planes wouldn't need to be able to reach the enemy, just her allied carriers, and all the while, she'd be out of range of the enemy's striking range.

Again, though: concentration of force for carrier fleets is crucial. Sure, you could keep Ranger in the Atlantic, but in general, you'd want as many carriers as possible for facing enemy carriers, both to gain a decisive edge against the enemy and to minimize the damage/losses to your own carriers.
 
SaltyWaffles said:
Until 1944, no fighter defense/AA combination was good enough to stop all of a large air attack. However, fighters were still, by far, the most effective form of air defense, even in 1942.

It would have made a significant difference to have, say, Ranger hang further back from the enemy than the other fleet carriers, but still launch its fighters and Dauntlesses to provide CAP for said fleet carriers. Range wouldn't be an issue, since her planes wouldn't need to be able to reach the enemy, just her allied carriers, and all the while, she'd be out of range of the enemy's striking range.

Again, though: concentration of force for carrier fleets is crucial. Sure, you could keep Ranger in the Atlantic, but in general, you'd want as many carriers as possible for facing enemy carriers, both to gain a decisive edge against the enemy and to minimize the damage/losses to your own carriers.
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Problem.

The Japanese planes had more range then ours, so...

If the Ranger is to be able to do anything she going to have to get close.

And we need a carrier in the Altantic. For the same reason as why we kept two of our new battleships there. And we didn't have any others.
 
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SaltyWaffles said:
Until 1944, no fighter defense/AA combination was good enough to stop all of a large air attack. However, fighters were still, by far, the most effective form of air defense, even in 1942.

It would have made a significant difference to have, say, Ranger hang further back from the enemy than the other fleet carriers, but still launch its fighters and Dauntlesses to provide CAP for said fleet carriers. Range wouldn't be an issue, since her planes wouldn't need to be able to reach the enemy, just her allied carriers, and all the while, she'd be out of range of the enemy's striking range.

Again, though: concentration of force for carrier fleets is crucial. Sure, you could keep Ranger in the Atlantic, but in general, you'd want as many carriers as possible for facing enemy carriers, both to gain a decisive edge against the enemy and to minimize the damage/losses to your own carriers.
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Minor problem though. Even when stationed further at the back, say like 20 - 50 miles behind the main carrier force, there are still chance for Japanese recon planes to spot Ranger instead of the Lexs/Yorks. And if she is spending most of her fighter supporting the CAP for other carriers, well, she won't be able to beat off any air attack.
 
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Firefinder12-B said:
Problem.

The Japanese planes had more range then ours, so...

If the Ranger is to be able to do anything she going to have to get close.
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Not really? I don't think you understand the scale involved. Even though Japanese planes have more range, it's not so great a margin that it comes even remotely close to trumping the range of a fresh, fully-fueled Wildcat, especially where dive- and torpedo-bombers carrying heavy ordinance is concerned. Plus, logic dictates that the close carriers would be detected first, and thus, the enemy's combined strike would be aimed at them. By the time the farther carrier is detected (assuming it even is), the enemy's combined strike has already been launched. Even if they had enough planes for another strike in reserve, it would take a considerable amount of time to prepare, spot, and launch such a strike--and that's assuming they would even have the range to reach the target. I'm talking about 50-100 miles behind the other fleet carriers.

Since it wouldn't be using its dive bombers for attacking, it could use them for scouting the flanks that the other fleet carriers aren't covering, in the very unlikely chance that the enemy carrier force is in a completely different direction than anticipated.

(IIRC, the Zero had more range than a fully loaded dive bomber or torpedo bomber--which makes a lot of sense. But Zeros aren't a threat to carriers by themselves.)

Either way, if by some freak chance Ranger is hit by the combined strike of the enemy carriers, that just gives the other, better fleet carriers a free shot at the enemy fleet carriers without being attacked in turn. It also means that the better fleet carriers are not at massive risk--it's the difference between losing Ranger and losing a Yorktown or Lexington, which is a very good trade.

Also, Ranger could still sortie its dive bombers for CAP duty. And depending on whether or not it carries an extra fighter squadron in place of torpedo bombers...

And we need a carrier in the Altantic. For the same reason as why we kept two of our new battleships there. And we didn't have any others.
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Firstly, I said Wasp or Ranger; if Wasp is really the better choice for Pacific operations (which it very well may have been), then send Wasp to the Pacific instead. But ultimately, if one or two escort carriers were available by early 1942, then Wasp should be in the Pacific from the start, although whether or not Ranger's pitching problem was really that bad is a question whose answer would determine whether or not Ranger should be in the Pacific as well.

Escort carriers are the most efficient ASW assets around, which makes them ideal for convoy escort and general ASW. Escort carriers also perform plane ferrying duties just fine. Given that neither Wasp nor Ranger were used in ways that only fleet carriers could (they were only used in ways that escort carriers could also do just fine), it would have been a tremendous waste to have them in the Atlantic had escort carriers (or light carriers) been available in early 1942.
 
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SaltyWaffles said:
Not really? I don't think you understand the scale involved. Even though Japanese planes have more range, it's not so great a margin that it comes even remotely close to trumping the range of a fresh, fully-fueled Wildcat, especially where dive- and torpedo-bombers carrying heavy ordinance is concerned. Plus, logic dictates that the close carriers would be detected first, and thus, the enemy's combined strike would be aimed at them. By the time the farther carrier is detected (assuming it even is), the enemy's combined strike has already been launched. Even if they had enough planes for another strike in reserve, it would take a considerable amount of time to prepare, spot, and launch such a strike--and that's assuming they would even have the range to reach the target. I'm talking about 50-100 miles behind the other fleet carriers.

Since it wouldn't be using its dive bombers for attacking, it could use them for scouting the flanks that the other fleet carriers aren't covering, in the very unlikely chance that the enemy carrier force is in a completely different direction than anticipated.

(IIRC, the Zero had more range than a fully loaded dive bomber or torpedo bomber--which makes a lot of sense. But Zeros aren't a threat to carriers by themselves.)

Either way, if by some freak chance Ranger is hit by the combined strike of the enemy carriers, that just gives the other, better fleet carriers a free shot at the enemy fleet carriers without being attacked in turn. It also means that the better fleet carriers are not at massive risk--it's the difference between losing Ranger and losing a Yorktown or Lexington, which is a very good trade.

Also, Ranger could still sortie its dive bombers for CAP duty. And depending on whether or not it carries an extra fighter squadron in place of torpedo bombers...


Firstly, I said Wasp or Ranger; if Wasp is really the better choice for Pacific operations (which it very well may have been), then send Wasp to the Pacific instead. But ultimately, if one or two escort carriers were available by early 1942, then Wasp should be in the Pacific from the start, although whether or not Ranger's pitching problem was really that bad is a question whose answer would determine whether or not Ranger should be in the Pacific as well.

Escort carriers are the most efficient ASW assets around, which makes them ideal for convoy escort and general ASW. Escort carriers also perform plane ferrying duties just fine. Given that neither Wasp nor Ranger were used in ways that only fleet carriers could (they were only used in ways that escort carriers could also do just fine), it would have been a tremendous waste to have them in the Atlantic had escort carriers (or light carriers) been available in early 1942.
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So, I just checked, and as it turns out, there were only two escort carriers in US service until after Midway, Long Island and Charger. The first Bogue and Sangamon-class CVEs didn't commission until August 1942, with the exception of Copahee, who commissioned in June. And Long Island spent a good chunk of that time in the Pacific as an airplane ferry.

I don't think it's a coincidence that Wasp was sent to the Pacific as Bogue and Sangamon class CVEs began coming online in numbers.
 
CV12Hornet said:
So, I just checked, and as it turns out, there were only two escort carriers in US service until after Midway, Long Island and Charger. The first Bogue and Sangamon-class CVEs didn't commission until August 1942, with the exception of Copahee, who commissioned in June. And Long Island spent a good chunk of that time in the Pacific as an airplane ferry.

I don't think it's a coincidence that Wasp was sent to the Pacific as Bogue and Sangamon class CVEs began coming online in numbers.
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Huh, I didn't even know there were two around that early. I was speaking hypothetically--if the USN had bothered to start converting some merchant hulls into escort carriers back in 1940 (or sooner) when it became apparent that the possibility of war with other world powers was very real (and that convoy escort with ASW would be important regardless), and thus had some escort carriers around by December 1941.
 
SaltyWaffles said:
Huh, I didn't even know there were two around that early. I was speaking hypothetically--if the USN had bothered to start converting some merchant hulls into escort carriers back in 1940 (or sooner) when it became apparent that the possibility of war with other world powers was very real (and that convoy escort with ASW would be important regardless), and thus had some escort carriers around by December 1941.
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Unfortunately they didn't have the public support (and therefor the money) to do so, especially with the blackshoed Admirals (battleships) fighting the carrier admirals at every turn.
 
SaltyWaffles said:
Huh, I didn't even know there were two around that early. I was speaking hypothetically--if the USN had bothered to start converting some merchant hulls into escort carriers back in 1940 (or sooner) when it became apparent that the possibility of war with other world powers was very real (and that convoy escort with ASW would be important regardless), and thus had some escort carriers around by December 1941.
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I can see two reasons why they didn't.

1) Something in a treaty basically said that we can't and eventhru Japan pulled out there was still like three other countries and the US didn't want to be that guy basically know what I mean? Same why the British didn't put 15s on the KVGs they didn't want to be those guys. Especially since it was there idea in the beginning to go with 14s...

2) MONEY MONEY MONEY... It wasn't there.
 
SaltyWaffles said:
Huh, I didn't even know there were two around that early. I was speaking hypothetically--if the USN had bothered to start converting some merchant hulls into escort carriers back in 1940 (or sooner) when it became apparent that the possibility of war with other world powers was very real (and that convoy escort with ASW would be important regardless), and thus had some escort carriers around by December 1941.
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Selonianth said:
Unfortunately they didn't have the public support (and therefor the money) to do so, especially with the blackshoed Admirals (battleships) fighting the carrier admirals at every turn.
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And even then, they did start converting Long Island early enough that she was ready before Pearl (Charger being an ex-British ship).
 
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Chapter 15
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    • This one fought me something fierce, not going to lie. But here we are:


    Chapter 15:​
    No...no no no...

    Indestructible jumped in front of Admiral Takeda, as she looked forward. Brown eyes remained focused entirely on the area in front of her. On the girl in front of her. The powerful battleship, that could snap most warships like a twig. And this was a battleship she had to prepare to fight. For Tosa bore the classic markings of an Abyssal. While she had only seen them in pictures, Indestructible recognized it. Dark black hair, lank and almost wet. A distinct smell of salt water. Pale skin. And her eyes. Tosa's blue eyes, staring for the moment at Kaga. One was normal, but the other...

    The other glowed with unnatural light, just like the pictures.

    And yet, she had not moved. Tosa's eyes, normal and glowing, were focused entirely on Kaga. Who, for her part, had not moved an inch either. Despite every instinct that girl had. A carrier that close to a potentially hostile battleship was in a bad place. Hiei had moved in front of a stunned Akagi for exactly that reason. But Kaga, despite her experience and personality, had made no similar moves. Indestructible had to resist the temptation to rush out and pull her to safety.

    "What are you doing..." The British girl muttered, looking between the sisters anxiously.

    Her fingers twitched, her crew warily waiting for the order to fire. Indestructible had no illusions of course...even at this close of a range, Tosa had far more than enough armor to take a few hits. Hiei was even worse off. But if it came down to it...

    She would fire.

    "Kaga."

    The battleship's attention was drawn back to Tosa, however. The younger battleship, her voice still scratchy and entirely too deep, had not turned away from her sister.

    "Onee-san," Kaga replied, her own voice...weak. There was no longer the stoic carrier. Now there was nothing but shock, and worry.

    "I..." Tosa shook her head, the glow in her eye stubbornly refusing to fade. "Why? Why did you...?"

    "We needed you..."

    "No you don't!"

    Twitching, Indestructible pushed Admiral Takeda further behind her. Even Kaga flinched back, though Indestructible couldn't see her face from the angle she was standing at. Regardless of that though, it was readily apparent nonetheless...that the carrier was stunned by the outburst. Tosa was stunned, as the battleship flinched back, holding a hand to her face.

    "Indestructible..." Takeda whispered.

    "Stay here, Admiral."

    The British girl was far from inclined to let the Admiral get himself hurt. Though she was forced to look back at the sisters, as Tosa backed away.

    "You never needed me." Tosa continued, her hand not once moving from her face. Even as she shook her head, lank hair swaying with the motion. "I was tossed aside, used as a test despite how complete I was. I never had the chance to serve. To live. Kaga, you have no idea how that feels. How angry I am!"

    Tosa practically spit out the last words, her hand falling away at last. The glow in her eye had not faded in the least, as she glared out at the room in general. Not at Kaga, and not at Indestructible. Perhaps, in her anger, she had failed to notice the Admiral or the British battleship. But, that would not last forever. Indestructible tensed further, as she watched Kaga move forward. There was none of the of the calm strides that had become somewhat familiar to the British girl. No, Kaga walked forward almost hesitantly.

    That she did even that, was something that- perhaps -only Indestructible could understand.

    For no matter what Tosa was...or what she was acting like...she was still Kaga's only sister. If anyone could get through to her, it would be the carrier. The carrier, and no one else. Not even Indestructible, who had experienced abandonment all on her own, could do that. Tosa needed her sister. And Indestructible could only stand back, and keep the Admiral safe. No matter what her instincts were screaming at her.

    I am not going to be the one to take Kaga's sister from her. Not a chance in hell.

    "I..." Kaga spoke, her voice softer than usual. "Onee-san, please. I don't want to fight you, or I would not have asked you to come back."

    "The last thing I want is to hurt you." The battleship shot back. "But you should have let me rest. I'm not...I'm not like you remember me, Kaga. I am so angry. I want nothing more than to destroy everything around us, and find a way to show Japan the pain I felt. No one can understand that feeling."

    Clenching her fist, Tosa brought it down on the wall she had moved towards. Her fist punched clean through, no sign it even hurt her.

    "Look at me, Kaga. Look at how easily I can destroy things. Do you have any idea how much it tempts me to draw my weapons and..."

    Kaga shook her head, stepping forward again, "Onee-san, I cannot claim to understand how you feel. I was...hurt. It pained me so much, to see you lost. To know I would likely never see you again. Were it not for Indestructible, I would not have even tried this."

    "Indestructible..."

    "Yes. She has been...a great aid."

    Tosa shook her head, blue eyes shifting from Kaga, and finally noticing the British battleship. Indestructible tensed at that, as she pushed herself to cover Takeda further. She could see the anger in Tosa's eyes better, now that she was the focus of it. And it was very clear, that this girl was barely holding herself back. The glowing eye...the British girl could see how much anger was held in it.

    Just like that picture.

    "You," Tosa spoke, her scratchy voice not once changing tone. "What are you doing here?"

    "I was summoned here. Not my choice, mind. But it was..."

    "No, why are you here."

    The anger in her voice had Indestructible frown, "Pardon?"

    "There was no reason for you, of all people, to call me back!" Tosa practically snarled, her eyes narrowing as her fist clenched on non-existent weapons. "You left us behind, left your sisters behind."

    Indestructible couldn't help it. She stumbled back like she was physically struck, her brown eyes widening. She...

    "I didn't leave anyo..."

    "You did! I was tossed aside, but at least I mourned losing my sister! You...you...just found new sisters."

    "I..."

    Had she done that? Had she abandoned all thoughts of reuniting with Hiei, content to have Implacable and Irresistible? Had she used her British siblings as surrogates for her Japanese siblings?

    "Onee-san..." Kaga tried to break in, only for Tosa to push her aside.

    The glare on the battleship's face had not faded, as her normal eye glared at Indestructible every bit as much as her glowing one.

    "At one point, I thought you might understand me. You had faced the same I had...abandonment by Japan. Tossed aside because it was inconvenient to keep you. But...I realized something, as I rested." The Japanese battleship narrowed her eyes again, pointing at herself. "I had only Kaga. In being tossed aside, I failed to do what a sister should do. And that hurt almost more than being abandoned in the first place. But you were given new sisters, and abandoned your old ones, all to serve another nation. I h̠̻̩͉a̸t͉e͎̜̲̰͇ ̟̗t̰͖̕h̯͖̼͇a͡t̬͍̞ͅ."

    Everyone in the room, save for Tosa herself, flinched back at those words. Her voice...had taken on a tone that had the ship girls in the room on edge, unable to believe they were hearing it from...one of them. Indestructible flinched back more than any, however. Those words...they hit her, directly in her heart. She had...she had mourned the loss of her sisters. Indestructible had never once forgotten Hiei and the others. How could she? How could she ever forget her beloved siblings? The very idea...

    But...

    She had done what Tosa accused her of. She had latched onto the British battlecruisers, both her true sisters and the others, and tried to turn them all into one big family. Indestructible had tried to take the pain of losing her Japanese sisters, and compensate by attaching herself to the British. And in a way, that was abandoning Hiei, Haruna, and Kirishima. Abandoning any hope of seeing them again.

    I...never thought...

    "Onee-sama!"

    Head snapping up, Indestructible looked, her eyes locking onto Hiei. Who was giving her a big grin, her thumb up despite the fact she was still shielding Akagi.

    "I never hated you, or blamed you! I know you couldn't see us, but you're here now. I love you, you know that!"

    "Hiei..."

    "You're my sister...Indestructible." Hiei's grin softened, as she saw the look on her sister's face. "So don't let her get to you!"

    Squaring her shoulders, the British girl nodded. Her heart was warmed by those words...no matter the situation. No matter what Tosa said. Hiei was the one who would have had real reason to be angry, yet she wasn't. And that meant...

    "You're wrong." Indestructible turned to look at Tosa, who had kept up her glare. "I was abandoned, just like you were. And you know, I hated Japan for a long time too. I...I'm still not particularly fond of them. I have my sisters, and friends like Kaga. But I still don't like the idea of being here. But you know the difference between us?"

    "What?" Tosa ground out.

    "I had someone save me." The battleship replied, looking down at her Royal Navy uniform. "Yes, I may have grown attached to my new home. And yes, I may have used my sisters in Britain as a way to forget the pain of losing Hiei, Haruna and Kirishima. But...I had a home. I was able to serve, and live my life to it's fullest. So...bloody hell, I can't understand how you feel. I can understand how it feels to be abandoned, but not to fall without a chance to live. Still, I don't blame you for how you feel, Tosa."

    Indestructible shook her head, a small frown crossing her lips.

    "Even so, I won't fight you if you don't make me. I hope you can come to accept what happened. I have, though it wasn't easy."

    Tosa looked away, her hands clenching in her dark skirt, "How can I ever forgive Japan for w̖͞h̹̤̝͉̹a͕͞t̷̻͕̤ ͙t̟͉̘̲h̗͇̟͍͟e̬̩y̖̤ ͚d̩̩̹͖̟̘͝i҉̲d͍͓͓̳̫̝ ̧t͕̭͉̹̣̟͡o̘̫ ̘̻̪m̝̪̫̥̳e͕̤̲͍̬͞?̗́"

    "You probably can't. I haven't forgiven them."

    The battleship looked up at that, and it wasn't just her. But Indestructible only looked at Tosa. Looked in the girl's blue eyes, the light in her unnatural one fading ever so slightly.

    "I may understand why I was abandoned. And I know why. But that does not mean I forgive Japan. I will probably never forgive them." Indestructible continued, studiously avoiding looking at Takeda behind her. "But...I can accept it. And I don't hate anyone I've met since I returned. Not one of them had anything to do with what happened to me. Bloody hell, not one person I've met- ship girl or otherwise -was even born when that happened. It would be hypocritical of me, to blame them for something they had nothing to do with."

    "Even..."

    "Even though I can never forgive the nation or the people who did it." The British girl sighed heavily, looking over at her sister. Hiei smiled at her, something Indestructible returned before turning back around. "I have done nothing but make friends since I returned. I can't hate them."

    Well, leaving aside that wanker Goto. But one step at a time here Indestructible...

    "I..." Tosa looked conflicted, as she held a hand to her glowing eye.

    Conflicted, until Kaga stepped back into view. Indestructible could actually see the carrier's face now, and it had her eyes widening. Kaga's stoic expression was gone, her own brown eyes slightly red. The carrier only sent a small nod her way though, before moving forward to Tosa. Kaga pulled her sister's hand down, completely uncaring of the anger that Tosa had already shown. Uncaring of the danger she was in. Tosa stared at her sister, wide-eyed. But the anger wasn't there.

    If anything, she almost looked...ashamed?

    "Onee-san," Kaga spoke quietly, holding her sister's hand tightly. "I do not blame you for how you feel. I could never blame you. But all I can ask you, is that you do not let it become all you feel. I...am not good good at expressing how I feel, but I know this much. If you let anger rule your actions, you will be no better than the Abyssals. I...do not want to lose you again."

    Kaga squeezed her sister's hand even tighter, brown eyes staring into the blue counterparts of her sister.

    "I do not know if I can handle losing you for a second time, Tosa onee-san."

    Tosa's eyes widened further, before tears built up in them. Even the stubborn glow in her right eye faded, if not completely...then at least enough to not be noticeable compared to the tears. Her pale arms pulled her sister into a hug, Kaga's shocked body not resisting the movement. Even if her own arms were extremely hesitant, as the carrier returned the gesture. The sisters tightly held on to each other, making Indestructible feel like she was intruding. On some level she was...this should have been a private moment.

    And, in fact, Admiral Takeda tapped her shoulder. The British girl turned away to look at him, the man's aged features twisted into a small smile.

    "We should leave."

    "Admiral?"

    "I think we do not need to worry, now. Kaga will keep her sister from snapping..." Takeda nodded at the door, where Indestructible saw familiar black hair. "Moreover, Nagato and Mutsu are here. They will keep an eye on Tosa, until we can...figure out what has happened here. Otherwise, I feel that you have done what you can. If Tosa desires to talk to you further, she will. And right now..."

    The Admiral looked over at the sisters, neither of whom had moved from their embrace.

    "Right now, I feel we will only be in the way. Kaga needs this, as much as Tosa does. They are sisters, and I am sure you understand that better than most." Takeda sighed softly. "I hardly enjoy taking this risk, however, I really do believe it is the best chance we have. Kaga and Tosa will talk, and we can only hope that is enough. Attempting to force her to do anything would..."

    Indestructible winced, "Not end well."

    "Indeed."

    And so, the British girl followed the Admiral. Hiei and Akagi were close behind, as Nagato and Mutsu moved into the room to take their place. Indestructible nodded gratefully at both of the larger battleships. Nagato merely nodded back, but Mutsu sent a soft smile and a thumbs up at the Brit. Smiling at that, the battleship truend back to Takeda. Hiei and Akagi were standing a respectful distance away, the former hugging the latter. Akagi was clearly overwhelmed then.

    Not that Indestructible wasn't. She didn't like leaving Kaga in there, but...it was truly the best option. Tosa seemed to love her sister enough to get past her anger. And, well, that was the important thing. Getting her past that anger.

    Still, I am worried. What if Tosa...

    That thought would have to wait, as Takeda sent a weary smile up at the battleship. The Japanese Admiral tapped a headset she hadn't noticed he was wearing, as he looked over at the exit of the building.

    "I confess, there was another reason to come out here. I received a message from Ise," Takeda spoke up. "And you will be happy to hear that the handoff of your sisters is complete. They should be here in a matter of two or three days."

    My...sisters. Irresistible. Implacable. They will finally be back with me!

    And, despite Commander Goto...despite Tosa...Indestructible felt a grin crossing her face.


    An important note to make: No, the situation with Tosa is not defused. Far from it, in fact. In fact, the next chapter will start from Kaga's perspective, and get more detail on the Tosa situation.

    Hopefully it worked out the way I wanted it to.
     
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    • Well, at least Kaga and Indy kept this from blowing up.

    Still, I get the feeling that the... debate between Tosa and Indestructible probably isn't over yet.
     
    Skywalker_T-65 said:
    "I confess, there was another reason to come out here. I received a message from Ise," Takeda spoke up. "And you will be happy to hear that the handoff of your sisters is complete. They should be here in a matter of two or three days."
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Well well... It looks like someone forgot to mention they got a fangirl in tow.:D
     
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