Princess of Wales: A Memoir on the The Second World War and Origin of Ship Spirits (Kancolle)

[LtRainbowSlash]

Chapter 12: Downtime

Since the Japanese attack things had been pedal to the metal for a week. Between two sorties, and figuring out our new forms, we'd barely had a moment of calm. The return to something resembling a routine was a relief. But even so, more surprises were in store.

DECEMBER 21 1941
1010 HOURS

So. Hi. I have no idea what I'm doing. Wales makes this look so easy. Anyway! Hello, I'm Repulse, and I will be your writer for today at Wales' behest.

Where to start? Ah, I know. While Wales was trapped in the baths some things had been unfolding. After the debrief the admiral had brought in a couple of boffins. For the next three hours they'd grilled me for anything about the future. I hadn't been able to offer much about future events. I didn't remember much. I'd been young during the first time around, and I'd never been much of a student of history.

What I did have was an understanding of most naval weapons systems. I'd been a Weapons Tech in the Royal Navy from the mid-fifties to the early eighties. I'd worked on nearly every weapon we'd had in service during that time.

The first thing I'd provided them from memory was a blueprint for the Exocet ASM. I didn't expect it would change things much. They'd have no problem manufacturing a rocket and warhead. But I'd been a tech, not an engineer. I couldn't provide a detailed blueprint for the miniature guidance radar, and the radars of the time were too big and fragile. I doubted we'd see any before the end of the war.

The same went for the acoustic torpedoes. I didn't have a good enough understanding of the guidance system to allow them to recreate it.

What I did expect to see entering service before the end of the war were two gun systems I had spent the majority of my time maintaining. At the end of the day, all guns are purely mechanical, and while they'd likely be expensive to make, both gun systems were easily possible to build with 1940's technology.

I couldn't help but salivate at the prospect of being refit with M61 Vulcans and having my secondaries replaced with the rapid firing magazine-fed 4.5-inch Mark 8s. Being able to spit thousands of rounds into the air would go a long way to making sure I wouldn't get sunk a second time. I'd had an excellent understanding of both weapons, and so been able to draw relatively good diagrams and documentation. I didn't expect it would be easy, or that we would see either weapon before the end of the war, but I could hope.

I had two days with the boffins before they were evacuated. With any luck, they and their notes would make it back to Britain, and the engineers could get to work.

The next five days were relaxing. I had time off and only had to spend an hour a day with the boffins. It was a day before Wales got out of the baths that I was summoned to meet the Admiral.

I was wearing my whites when I stepped into the situation room that morning. I paused as I realized the Admiral's entire staff was in the room. Admiral Spooner himself was at the head of the map table, and Captain Tennant was beside him.

"You wanted to see me, sir?" I asked with a salute.

He returned the salute, "You're the last one Lieutenant Commander. Let's get started." He nodded to one of the officers at the table.

The young Lieutenant cleared his throat, "Sir. As far as we can tell, last evening, coincidentally just before Force Z left port, one of the ship spirits activated, that is, made visible, a Merchant vessel. This nelly activated spirit then did the same for others, and so on. As of this morning nearly every single vessel in the Singapore area that has a spirit has been activated."

There was surprised murmuring around the table. I let out a surprised whistle, "Shite."

"Gentlemen...And Lady." Spoke Admiral Spooner, "We are going to lose Singapore. It will take time, but it is inevitable. We cannot, under any circumstances, let the Japanese get their hands on activated ship spirits. At the same time, we need to inform the civilian population so they don't panic. The secret is out. I need suggestions. What do we do?"

One of the staff officers spoke up, "How small can a boat get and still have a spirit?"

I had an answer to that, "Twenty tons or five crew."

I could see the collective grimace around the table. The same officer rubbed his chin,
"That covers a lot of vessels."

"Don't they have to willingly activate new ones?" Another interjected.

Another fired back, "And what is to stop the Nips from forcing them?"

I furrowed my brows at him, "How?"

He just shrugged, "Death threats. Torture. They're Nips."

I wanted to retort, but he wasn't wrong. Us warships seemed to come built tough as nails. We'd yell, we'd cry, but I'd never heard of a ship spirit breaking. Even the destroyers, despite their young appearance, were some of the toughest, most willful people I'd ever met.

But Merchant ships? If we were born and bred soldiers, then they were civilians. Diverse, capable, and very good at what they did, but completely useless the moment violence reared its ugly head. Sure, some of them would keep a clear head. Some of them were extremely tough. But some of them I could see completely and utterly breaking under interrogation. Off the top of my head, I knew at least two merchants that would do whatever they were told if threatened with harm.

Another officer spoke up, "We could have them scuttled once the Japs come by."

I just glared at him, "No! We are nae jus' executing them in cold blood because they're inconvenient!"

I stood there huffing in anger for a moment. I met the eyes of everyone in the room. What stood out to me was the fear I could see on everyone's faces, barring the Admiral and my former Captain. That took the wind out of my anger. They were terrified of me.

It took me a moment to realise why: I could tear a man apart with my bare hands. The Admiral and my Captain actually knew me, and that I'd never do so without just cause. To the others though, I was an absurdly powerful person. And if that wasn't enough for them, I was a 'fragile and delicate' woman. As far as they were concerned, I could snap at any time and go ballistic.

I visibly calmed myself and spoke, "What else do we have?"

Everyone recomposed themselves, though I still received some weary looks. The Intelligence Lieutenant who had originally delivered the brief cleared his throat, "Perhaps we could keep it quiet? We could make it clear to the crews and spirits themselves that they have to keep this from the Japanese. Have them pass off the spirits as family members. We'll have to instruct the media censors to prohibit any publications on the subject, keep it an open secret. If it's purely word of mouth they may not learn of it. Japanese Intelligence is woefully inadequate."

Captain Tennant shook his head, "We assumed the same about their navy and aircraft as well."

"We could evacuate them." Offered one officer.

"Are you mad?" Asked another as the table descended into discussion. This was going to take awhile.

---

DECEMBER 22 1941
0840 HOURS

In hindsight I was remarkably blase about losing an arm. One would think such a thing would make more of an impact. Yet I believe it was a perfect example of my second life and new body affecting me psychologically. It was just my two front turrets. They'd be fixed.

Suffice to say, slowly watching your arm grow back over the course of a week is surreal.

I found a nice routine. I'd wake up around eight and get breakfast in the officers' mess. After that it was into the pool for four hours. I'd then hop out to get lunch, and then spend eight hours in the afternoon and evening in the pool. After that, it was dinner in bed. Most of the time in the pool was spent watching movies, usually joined by the destroyers that were not busy escorting convoys, which was usually two or three of the girls. A week passed. The day before I was done they were all sent to run a convoy escort.

I woke up early again on the twenty-second. I was dressed and just about to leave my room when I realised I didn't need the bath anymore. My turrets and magazine had been finished the previous evening. It was nice to have my fingers, hand and arm back. Either way, I was free from the pool. I may have had a slight spring in my step as I headed for the mess.

The whole ordeal had given me a new respect for amputees. Repulse had had to help me for the first three days. I hadn't been able to fully dress myself, and it was a shock to realise how much I took being able to carry two things for granted.

I'd eaten half of my breakfast when Repulse placed her breakfast down to join me. "Mornin' lass."

"Morning." I replied in between spoonfuls of cereal.

We ate in silence for a few minutes before the Battlecruiser spoke up, "So the Merchants go' activated."

I blinked in confusion, "What? Activated?"

Repulse shrugged, "That's wha' the boffins are callin' making a spirit visible."

I nodded, "Ah, I suppose that makes sense." I scooped another mouthful of cereal. I was just swallowing when my slowly awakening brain finally processed what she had said. "Wait what!? How did that happen?!"

Repulse shrugged, "Some spirit decided te'. I don't blame them, s'nice being alive, but it's put us in a bind."

"Because the Japs might get them when they take Singapore?"

She nodded "Aye."

I opened my mouth to speak... "Wales! Repulse!" Only to jump as Electra's voice on the radio broke the silence. "You're gonna wanna fucking see this!"

"Electra? What's happening?" I asked over the radio.

"Docks! Now!" Was the shouted reply.

The two of us exchanged a look before getting up and breaking into a sprint. Thank god I was wearing my practical whites rather than my sundress. It took us mere minutes to reach the docks. As we arrived I spotted Electra just being tied up. Men crowded her deck, and the atmosphere was muted.

The destroyer in question was already standing on the dockside with her two sisters and Jupiter. All four of them seemed subdued. I could see tear stains on Jupiter's face.

Repulse spoke as we approached, "Right. Wha' happened lasses?"

Jupiter looked like she was ready to cry while the others gave her pitying looks. Ever the big sister, Electra answered, "We had a run-in with Japanese subs."

The first thing that occurred to me was that one of them had been hit. But none of them looked any worse for wear. I glanced over where their hulls were being tied up. No visible damage. Perhaps they'd lost a ship or two from the convoy? I'd never seen any destroyer this broken up about something like that though. But my gut was telling me I was missing something here. That's when I noticed. My face fell. Please be wrong, please be wrong. I had to ask though.

"Jupiter? Where's your hull?" The way she teared up and sobbed made my heart drop. Before I knew it I had joined the other three destroyers hugging her and comforting her. "It's ok. It's ok. Shhhhhhh."

After only a couple of minutes she had managed to pull herself together surprisingly quickly. "I'm ok. I'm ok." She spoke shakingly, even as she wiped her eyes.

Repulse gave me a look, and while none of the destroyers could see she quickly blinked out a code like a signaling lamp. I nodded, and she turned to Jupiter. "Come along lass. You look like shite. Let's get you cleaned up and put some food in your belly."

The destroyer sniffed and held out her hand for the Battlecruiser to take, "Okay."

As soon as they were gone I spun on the three E's. "What happened?"

Electra visibly steeled herself, "Convoy was damn quiet. We'd already left 'em to come back 'ere." She sighed, "Then four 'ours ago a fuckin' Nip sub ambushed us thirty nautical miles out. Put a torp right into Jup's midships. It was a miracle she didn't sink." She looked angry now, "We depth charged the bitch for two 'ours while Jup' limped back. She was down to ten knots, so we caught up. We were jus' entering the straits when…" She took a deep breath, and I could tell she was trying to control her rage. She failed, "It's so fucken' unfair! She's right there, almost 'ome-fuckin'-free! And she hits a goddamned fucking mine! It's bullshit!"

Encounter looked nearly as mad as her sister, while Express just looked sad. The younger sister just shook her head, "It broke her back. She sank in less than fifteen minutes."

I sighed and ran my hands over my face, "Fuck." I shook my head in frustration, "This damned war." I took a moment to compose myself, "So how is she still with us? The same as Repulse and I or…?"

"Aye." Nodded Express, "She just popped off 'er 'ull as she was going down. 'ad the rigging appear like you two, and started helping rescue her crew."

I thought that over in my head, a happy smile slowly appearing on my face. "That's...That's incredible. If anyone sinks, they don't die. They become a S-H-I-P." I gave the girls an elated grin, "You, and the others still visible on their hulls, can't die without getting a second chance!"

The three E-class' eyes widened. "We ge' to be fully 'uman like you two?"

I gestured back the way Repulse and Jupiter had gone, "Jupiter is, isn't she?"

That turned the hopeful looks into happy grins, "Ha! Hear that Jappos!?" Yelled Express, "If you kill us we just get stronger! HAAA!"

I couldn't help but smile at the three E's as they celebrated. Being able to truly live as a person was something people just took for granted. But to see three young destroyers celebrate just the simple fact of knowing they would one day be able to enjoy that? It was a nice feeling.

---

DECEMBER 23 1941
1753 HOURS

Have I ever mentioned how much I despise the tropics? It's hot, it's muggy, and my radar, boilers and electronics always go to pieces.

As a reprieve from the scorching heat I'd found a nice little beach just east of the base, gotten into my swimsuit, and just enjoyed the somewhat cooler water. I'd been in the water for a mere ten minutes when I spotted Jupiter walking along the shore. I stood up and began to wade back to the beach. "Jupiter!"

She jumped a bit at my voice and spun to face me. Even from here I could see her eyes widen before she screeched, "What the hell are you wearing Wales?!"

I glanced down at the red and white bikini I was wearing before flushing, "It's a bikini…"

Jupiter was staring at me blushing profusely as I stepped back on dry land. "I-it's so lewd." She managed to stammer out.

I produced a towel from my hold and began drying myself as I approached, "It's quite normal swimwear from my time."

That made her pause, "Wait wot."

I just shrugged as I finished drying myself and pulled out my whites to put on over my swimsuit, "Things change. Society is far less uptight in seventy years."

"But...but…!" She stammered. It seemed I'd broken the poor destroyer. She continued to stammer and blush as I finished getting dressed.

After a moment I gave her a tap, "Oi. Jup. Snap out of it."

She seemed to snap back to awareness, "Oh, ahhhh. I'm ok!"

I pulled a pair of deck chairs from where I'd stored them. I may or may not have nicked a few from the pool-turned-repair-bath. "So what brings you out here?" I asked as I sat down.

Jupiter sighed and sat down, "Just thinking."

"About?" I prompted.

She thought for a moment before answering my question with another question. "How do you do it Wales?"

A confused look crossed my face. "I'm sorry?"

For such a young looking girl, Jupiter looked far beyond her years as she spoke, "How do you deal with knowing you failed your crew."

"Ah." I bit my lip. With a sigh I pulled out a bottle of rum, popped the lid and took a swig. "Glass?" She gave me a small nod so I produced two glasses and poured us each one. I downed it in one go before I started, "I don't." Seeing her look of confusion I continued, "I remember all three-hundred-four of them. I failed them. I have nightmares, not as bad as after Denmark Strait, but still nightmares. It hurts. And from what little I know about psychology that you need to talk about it. Unburden yourself." I sighed and took another swig, "I'm too much of a coward. Even just talking about it indirectly like this...it's so hard." I emptied my glass and poured myself another. "Just...if you can, talk to others. The E's are good girls. They'll do what they can for you."

I glanced over to see Jupiter nod, "Okay." I nodded back, and let things trail off.

…

…

"Can I have another glass please?"

I barked a laugh. And happily refilled her glass.

 

[ecs05norway]

Good chapter. Needs threadmark.

 

[LtRainbowSlash]

Chapter 13: Evacuation

Singapore. The Gibraltar of the East. Defended by two capital ships, hundreds of aircraft, and thousands of men. And none of it mattered. All because all of those aircraft were obsolete, outnumbered and completely outclassed by their Japanese counterparts. The Battle of Britain may have been the first time a battle was fought entirely in the air. But the Malayan campaign was the first time in history a land and naval war was completely decided by which side had air superiority. Due to the geography of the region there was something of a pyramid: the side with naval superiority would win the ground war, and the side with air superiority would win the war at sea. I can't say I'm familiar with what happened in my original world, other than both myself and Repulse no doubt sunk that day, permanently. But even in this world, where the two of us were still in the fight, we were helpless. Any attempt to sortie was suicide, and we'd not yet begun to get creative with our new capabilities. Suffice to say, everyone had accepted Singapore's fall as inevitable even before New Years. The only question was how long we could drag it out.

---

DECEMBER 24 1941
1218 HOURS

I found myself sitting in the officer's mess with Repulse, Jupiter, and Captain Tennant. All four of us were wearing whites, brand new ones in Jupiter's case. The Captain had asked us to join him for lunch and a chat. He'd arrived with Jupiter in tow, and the four of us had eaten before the Captain got down to business.

"I'll get right to it ladies. Jupiter here has been given the rank of Lieutenant and assigned with you two to the Special Naval Service." Jupiter gave us a happy smile. "Now normally the flagship would be the most capable ship in the fleet," His eyes landed on me, "However, I can't go to sea with you girls for obvious reasons." He turned to Repulse, "So, I've decided to go with experience instead. I'd rather keep this informal so no need to get up. I have gotten permission from the Admiral, congratulations Commander Repulse." Repulse's eyes lit up as she took the offered epaulets.

She gave him a two-fingered salute, "I'll do me best sir."

He smiled at his former ship, "I know you will. During sorties, you will be in charge." He gestured at me and Jupiter, "You two follow her orders as if they were my own, understood?"

I nodded, "Absolutely sir."

Jupiter gave a bouncy nod, "Got it boss!"

"Good." He went to stand up, "Well I have plenty of paperwork to formalize all this, so I'll be taking my leave. Keep an ear to your radios and stay near the base. I'll have one of the steel hulls call you up if I have anything."

We all nodded and said our goodbyes. I waited until the Captain was out of earshot before rounding on Repulse with a teasing grin, "Congratulations, Ma'am."

Repulse just seemed to freeze for a moment before a snort escaped her, "Shite. That's nae somethin' I ever expected to be called."

Jupiter was the next to speak, "Why not? I mean, you're a granny boat."

I had to hide the shit-eating grin that crept over my face behind my hand as the battlecruiser rounded on the destroyer. "What didja jus' call me ya' wee shite?" Jupiter for her part just doubled over laughing. "Oi." Repulse just glared at her.

As amusing as it all was I quickly looked for something to change the subject. "Oh, Jupiter?"

She straightened up as her last few giggles faded, "Heh. Yeah?"

I gestured at Repulse, "The two of us had to choose human names to go on record. Did you?"

"Yup."

"What is it?"

She gave a small smile and an adorable salute, "Lieutenant Jupia Julia Joplyn."

Repulse just clapped once with a predatory grin, "Perfect! You're now JJ forevermore."

Jupiter pouted, "No just keep calling me Jup. I like that better."

Repulse just smirked, "Okay JJ."

"Stoooooooooop." Whined the destroyer.

Repulse shook her head. "Nope. Shouldn't 'a picked a name with those initials if ya' didnae want the nickname." She singsonged.

I interjected again as a random thought hit me, "That reminds me. Did you gain any memories when you were sunk, Jupiter?"

She looked at me blankly before her face lit up in recognition, "Ohhhh, you mean like your future memory thingies right?" I nodded. She just shook her head, "Nope."

"Huh." That was big and yet not at the same time.

I was about to start pondering the implications when a cockney voice loudly shouted, "Oi! 'Ello Wales! 'Ello Repulse, Jup!"

"'Lectra!" Smiled Jupiter, "Express! Encounter! What are you doing here?"

It was Express who replied, "We're off with anotha convoy tonight, so we thought we'd let you know."

I nodded, "Off to the Sunda Strait and back again?"

Electra nodded as the three E-class sat down at our table, "Aye. We'll be back in a jiff." She turned a mischievous look to Jupiter, "And we outrank you now Jup."

Jupiter just gave a confused look, "Since when do you have ranks?"

Electra shrugged, "Since the Admiral told all the Captains in port to, 'work us spirits into the chain of command at your discretion.'" She grinned, "The three of us are the Sub-Lieutenants Kalliway now."

Jupiter and I exchanged amused grins, "Is that so. Quite the interesting surname you three picked." I started, "But I'm afraid Jupiter here has you beat."

The three sisters stared at me for a moment before Jupiter turned to show her Lieutenant's shoulder boards, "Read it and weep girls."

Express just pouted, "Oh of fuckin' course!"

"Ah ah ah~" I wagged a finger at her and put on the poshest accent I could, "Such behavior is unbecoming for an Officer and Lady of the Royal Navy."

She just glared at me, "Oh sod off." Then under her breath, "Fucken' Capitals."

Repulse was next to speak, "So how did they work ye' in?"

Encounter, ever the well behaved sister spoke up, "I dunno about my sisters, but I'm essentially the XO's assistant."

The battlecruiser nodded, "Makes sense."

I gave them all a smile, "I hope it works out. You're the pioneers of how people will work with hullbound spirits in the future. Good luck."

---

JANUARY 16 1942
2002 HOURS

A week. Maybe two. That was all our raid on Kota Bharu had bought us. The Japanese had been brought to a halt from lack of supply. We'd nearly risked going after another convoy on Christmas day. We'd been getting ready to sortie until we'd been told to stand down when a RAF aircraft brought back pictures of not one but two Kongos escorting the convoy. Other than that, neither myself nor Repulse had done much other than sit on our asses.

Jupiter, the E's and Vampire had been busy running Singapore-India convoys down south through the Sunda Strait. The route through the Malacca Straits was a no go thanks to Japanese bombers operating from Thailand.

We were losing. At the time we believed we were facing a well equipped, well trained, and numerically superior army. Quite the change in assumptions from 'incompetent asiatics' before the war. In hindsight, we were the incompetent ones, losing to a force half our size. The total Japanese air superiority went some way to evening things out. But the army should have, at the very least, been able to hold their ground. Instead they were beaten and driven back, every day drawing closer to Singapore.

The north of Borneo had completely fallen, and what little garrison there was stationed there, annihilated.

It was late on the evening of January 16th. I was in the common room of the officer dorms. On the coffee table in front of me was my laptop, and around me on the couch were the five destroyers, all watching with rapt attention. After watching the first Indiana Jones film the girls had been hooked. All they talked about for the next few days was how amazing the movie and future cinema was.

And so, here we were, all five of them tensed up as Luke Skywalker's X-Wing sped down the trench. They gasped as Obi-Wan spoke from the dead, cheered when Han Solo returned, and pumped their fists in victory as the Death Star exploded.

Once the movie was over Electra spun to me, "'ow many more of these were there?"

"Five." I replied as I retrieved the DVD and shut down the computer, "Though I believe they were making a seventh before I… you know."

"Ah. ok." Electra said. "When can we watch the next one?"

I shrugged as I stowed the electronic device away, "We'll see."

She seemed like she was going to ask something else when my radio crackled in my head, "Repulse, Wales and Jupiter, report to Captain Tennant's office. Repulse Wales and Jupiter, report to Captain Tennant's office."

I exchanged a look with Jupiter, and the two of us stood to leave. I paused as I noticed the three E's had stopped as well. I could see the glazed over look in their eyes that we tended to get when we focused inward. "Girls?"

Express snapped out of it first, "Oh, sorry. We jus' got called back. We'll see you two later." And with that the three disappeared as they teleported back to their hulls.

Jupiter and I exchanged a shrug and headed for the headquarters.

And so that was how I found myself joining Captain Tennant and my two fellow SNS members in his office.

The room had several boxes, and a leading seaman was packing the various items in the room into them. Repulse and the Captain were already present.

The Captain began speaking the moment Jupiter had entered the room. "I apologize for calling you so late girls, but we haven't much time." He unrolled a map on his already cleared desk and beckoned us to look over it. Once the four of us were leaning over the map he began to speak, "The Admiral has passed us new orders and intelligence. As far as we know, a squadron or possibly two of Bettys will be transiting to Singkawang here." He tapped a small town and airstrip on the northwestern tip of Borneo. "The Japanese have captured the airstrip there. Now the Intel lads have the bombers pegged for a noon arrival tomorrow, with provisions made for immediate operations."

"How do we know this sir?" Repulse spoke up, "We got their codes?"

The Captain just shook his head, "I don't know Repulse. That's above my paygrade. And yours. I assume you can all see the problem."

I bit my lip, "We know they can make it from here to Saigon and back." I glanced at the other two SHIPs, "That's what? Six hundred nautical miles?"

Repulse nodded as she examined the map, "Sounds about right."

I looked over the map again, "They'll be able to cover most of the south china sea and even the Java sea from there."

The Captain nodded, "That's why we're evacuating all ships from Singapore. This is our last chance to move uncontested shipping in the area. We will be riding aboard the E-class' as will Admiral Spooner, and heading straight to Soerabaja. We depart within the hour."

---

JANUARY 17 1942
0843 HOURS

True to the Captain's word, within an hour the four of us had boarded the destroyers and departed Singapore. Vampire and Tenados were escorting the convoy made up of any remaining merchant ships that left at the same time. We'd sped south ahead at a speedy thirty knots, trying to get as far as we could under the protective cover of night. The fuel burn was so bad we'd need to stop in Batavia for fuel before continuing on to Soerabaja.

I'd slept overnight. I'd woken and gotten breakfast thirty minute before I made my way to the bridge. We'd just passed through the Karimata Strait and entered the Java sea. I was aboard Electra with Jupiter. Repulse and the Captain were aboard Encounter, while the Admiral was aboard Captain Leach's flagship, Express. My former Captain seemed to get along well with the destroyers. He'd been commanding them for over a month now.

I climbed up and entered the left side of the bridge to the usual sight of a few different crew going about their duties. I could see Electra leaning over the rail on the opposite wing, talking away. I quickly crossed the bridge to say hello. Stepping out the door onto the wing I heard her say, "I know Express." She glanced over as I exited and gave me a small smile. "Got it. Out." She finished up on the radio.

"Everything good?" I asked as I joined her at the railing.

She nodded, "Yup. 'Spress jus' wanted to ask somethin'. You?"

I gave a small shrug, "As well as can be expected."

"Right." She replied. Her body language was off, I quickly noticed. She seemed annoyed but was trying to hide it.

I gave her a concerned glance, "You alright?"

She opened her mouth to brush me off before closing it again. She sighed and slumped, "I jus' hate running away like this. Feels like we're jus' 'anding 'em Singapore on a silver platter."

I gave her an encouraging smile, "That's what we like about you, Electra. You're a fighter." I patted her cap.

She tried to brush my hand off, "Oi Wales! Stop it!"

I laughed and went to pat her again only to be interrupted by the wail of the klaxons.

"BONG BONG BONG GENERAL QUARTERS GENERAL QUARTERS ALL HANDS TO ACTION STATIONS ALL HANDS TO ACTION STATIONS! BONG BONG BONG."

Even before the first three rings of the alarm had sounded we were both moving. I got out of the way as Electra sprang through the bridge door, already producing and slipping a talker's mic around her neck. I'd been assigned as an extra pair of eyes on the left bridgewing, so I quickly made my way across the bridge after Electra. As soon as I'd arrived I pulled a pair of binoculars out and begun scanning.

A moment later Electra's captain arrived on the bridge. I was able to listen with half an ear as I scanned my sector. "What's happening?" He asked.

Electra was the one to reply, "Sir, asdic has spotted a suspected submarine at one-zero-three, five thousand yards. No torpedo launch yet."

"Right. I have her." The Captain spoke.

"Aye, Captain has the con." Replied the duty officer.

The Captain gave orders rapidfire, "Helm, all ahead flank, standard port rudder to one-zero-three. Electra, let the others know what is happening."

"All ahead flank, standard rudder to one-zero-three, Aye sir." Replied the helmsman.

"Will do sir." Nodded Electra.

Electra had an interesting action station I mused even as I continued scanning. She'd essentially replaced the bridge talker. Being omniscient on her hull removed the need for anyone below to report up the chain of command. She was essentially a walking talking CIC, able to filter all the various reports and inform the Captain as needed. A microphone she wore around her neck allowed her to pass any commands back down. The whole combination meant that as a whole, the ship's reaction time to nearly everything was vastly reduced.

And it seemed Electra had already become very good at her new job, "Contact, bearing one-zero-zero. Range forty-five hundred."

"Helm, come port to one-zero-zero."

"One-zero-zero, aye sir."

I heard the Captain turn, "Electra?"

"Sir?" She asked.

"Do you want to try it?"

I could hear the predatory grin on her face, "Yes sir."

"Ok then, just as we practiced." He said. Then to my surprise, "Sub-Lieutenant Kalliway has the con."

"Sub-Lieutenant Kalliway has the con, aye." Replied the helmsman.

I glanced over my shoulder and in the door to see the destroyer. She was standing just beside the helm, her eyes glazed over as the focused on her asdic returns. She didn't waste a second, "Helm, come port two degrees."

I turned back to my duties as I felt her hull comply. The next minute passed in an eerie silence. Where normally the crew would be communicating constantly, Electra had no need. She finally broke the silence a minute later, "Helm, ahead two thirds. Come starboard three degrees."

"Ahead two thirds, starboard three degrees, aye."

She spoke into her mic next, "Asdic, I need short pings, keep her pinged." Another moment passed as the roar of her engines fell away to a slower rhythm. Then, "Stand by to roll charges. Full pattern, shallow."

"Aye Ma'am!"

"On the bow, five hundred yards." She spoke for all of our benefits. Another moment of silence. Another. "Shit!" She cursed, "Hard to port, hard over! All ahead flank! Stand by charges!"

"Hard to port all ahead flank, aye!"

"Charges ready!"

I had to steady myself on the rail as the destroyer's hull listed through the turn and accelerated.

"Wait for it." Spoke Electra, "Waiiiiit… Roll charges!"

I looked back as curiosity got the better of me. There was the 'pop!' and splash as her racks and K-guns discharged their explosive cargo. Six depth charges hit the water as she straightened up and sped forward. A moment later the entire sea frothed and erupted in a massive spray.

Before I knew it the destroyer was leaning through another turn, this time to the left as she came back around. I was expecting her to make another run, but the point was rendered moot as a conning tower broke the surface. And it was in my sector. "Conning tower off the bow! Five hundred yards!" I shouted.

"Hard to starboard!" Electra shouted. I could hear the adrenaline and excitement in her voice. I had a bit of adrenaline high at the time myself. "All guns, fire as they bear!"

Her two forward turrets were quick to turn on target as she began to turn. Being on the port side facing the enemy, I had a front row seat. Both guns opened up with loud 'Bangs!' Her fifty caliber AA guns were quick to join in as well. Both shells missed. On the rear of the sub I could see a twisted and warped section of hull. No doubt the damage that had forced her to surface. I could see several Japanese crew appear on deck and rush to man the sub's deck gun. "Electra!?" I yelled.

"I know!" She shouted back as her two guns thundered again, joined a moment later by her two aft mounts. All four of the rounds straddled the sub. The range must have been four hundred yards. The Japanese crew could be seen bringing the gun around to bear. A sudden burst of fifty caliber fire sent two of the gunners slumping, while a third fell overboard.

Electra's third salvo was on target, two rounds went long, but one blasted the conning tower and another struck the waterline near the bow. A moment later eight more 4.7-inch shells splashed around the sub as Express and Encounter joined the party.

The Japanese submarine didn't last much longer after that. Electra's next salvo caught her square on, and her two sisters landed a shell each. She rapidly began to take on water. A final salvo of four shells from Electra left her entire port side open to the sea. Within a minute the submarine capsized and sank.

My gaze was broken from the sunk sub when a shrill whistle came from the tannoy, "Now hear this."

A Moment later the Captain's voice came, "This is the Captain. I'd like to inform everyone that Sub-Lieutenant Electra Kalliway was in command for the majority of that action. She has exceeded all of my expectations. A hearty congratulations on her first submarine kill." I could hear a cheer go up from the crew.

A minute later we had secured from action stations. I remained where I was as we slowed where the submarine had gone down. There were very few men in the water, only six, but the Captain had ordered them rescued. My eyes locked with one of them as we slowed to a stop. He gave me an angry glare and yelled something I couldn't make out from this distance. An instant later he ate a pistol and fired.

I could only stare in shock at the newly made corpse. I'd had an inkling that the Japanese were fanatical. Kamikazes were part of pop culture after all. But it was still a shock to see a man take his own life.

Electra who had just joined me on the bridge wing had somewhat more to say than my stunned silence, "Oh what the fuck!?" She glanced at me and back, "Did I jus' see what I thought I fuckin' saw?!"

I could only dumbly nod, "Uh Huh."

"Fucken christ." She muttered.

It turned out we didn't get a single survivor. Four simply refused to climb aboard, one purposely drowned himself. If this was how far the Japanese were willing to go, this war was going to be a long and bloody one.

 

[LtRainbowSlash]

Takes place in-between 12 and 13.

Omake; Chapter 12.5: Birthday Party

JANUARY 8 1942
1043 HOURS

"Happy birthday Repulse!" We all chorused as Express led the surprised battlecruiser into the room. It was just me, both Captains Tennant and Leach, and the five other destroyers. All of us were in civvies.

"Aw, girls. Ye' didnae have te'…"

I just smiled and clapped her on the back, "Nonsense you silly Scot."

"Yeah! It's your birthday!" Chirped Jupiter.

William Tennant gave his former command a small smile, "Happy twenty-sixth. Or is it a hundred and tenth?"

Electra popped up behind Repulse, "Grannyboat!" And instantly received a playful cuff on the side of the head.

"Bugger off ye' wee shite."

And with that, our little party got underway. I ended up beside the drinks table with my former Captain.

"It's still hard for me to wrap my head around." He spoke with awe.

"Of what sir?" I asked.

He gestured around, "All of you. To think the ships we've been building for thousands of years have been alive the entire time. You realize how much is going to change after the war because of this? You and Repulse have changed the course of history forever."

I gave a small nod, "We have haven't we. Almost every ship built after this war is probably going to be made visible from the moment they're launched."

"What is scrapping to you spirits?" He asked.

I glanced at him and replied, "A natural death of old age. Though that is going to change rapidly I think, if Jupiter is any indication of what happens when our hulls are destroyed. If becoming like me is what happens, I can think of quite a few who will be almost eager for the scrapyard."

He nodded and gave me a loaded look. "I can't stress enough how much is going to change societally after this is all said and done. Can you imagine how much is going to change? You and Repulse are going to be huge historical figures." He just shook his head, "Hell, history will surely remember me by association. If only as 'Prince of Wales Captain'. But that's a discussion for another time."

"If you say so. How are you getting along with your new command?" I said, changing the subject.

An amused smile appeared on his face. "The captains are all good officers. The E's are a handful, you'd think you were dealing with three rebellious cockney teenagers. Jupiter is a little angel in comparison."

I gave a small chuckle, "Sounds about right."

We lapsed into silence momentarily. "As someone who has been both human and a ship, what is it like?"

I took a moment to gather my thoughts. That was a difficult question. "It's different." I started, "As a steel hull, you have this extra… Sense, where you can feel everything about your hull. You know everything. You can feel your boilers humming away, your screws and rudders, all the crew. We tend to actually ignore it most of the time to give the crew at least a bit of privacy.. Sort of like how you learn to ignore the feeling of your clothes on your skin."

"Hmmm," He vocalized, a thoughtful look on his face, "And now?"

"It's hard to explain to someone who has never experienced it." I explained, "When the rigging is off, like right now, it's muted. I can feel my heart pumping, my lungs, my stomach when I get hungry. I feel human, just like my last life. But there's this faint feeling of the ship still there. Of the boilers, screws, guns and crew, it's just very faint. When the rigging comes out that comes to the fore. And you can influence it a bit. Like a volume knob, with 'human' on one side, and 'ship' on the other."

"Fascinating." My Captain chuckled, "If there wasn't a war on, I'd volunteer to run a SHIP research unit in a heartbeat. There's so much about you girls we just don't know, and I find it absolutely fascinating."

I chuckled, "Indulging your curious side huh?"

He just shrugged, "I've always been interested in science and it's findings. Tell me, what discoveries from the future do you think would interest me?"

I took a moment to think before replying, "How about rocketry?"

"Oh? How so? We already have rockets?"

I couldn't help a small eager smile on his face as I imagined his reaction to the next bit, "Yes, but what about rockets to take men to the moon and back?"

His face blanked for a moment, "We put men on the moon?"

I shrugged, "Well the Americans did in the sixties I believe. Don't quote me on that though."

"My god," He uttered, "That's within my lifetime. I never imagined I'd live to see such a thing."

It was at that moment that Repulse and Captain Tennant joined us. "Ye' break yer Captain Wales?"

I gave an amused smile, "Just told him about the Moon. So how does it feel to be a hundred and ten?"

The battlecruiser shrugged with a cheery smile, "Becomin' a ship spirit was th' best thing te' ever happen te' me. Ye' have nae idea how nice being young again is, until y've been an old codger."

I nodded before a sudden thought occurred to me. "Do we even age anymore?"

Repulse blinked in surprise and looked down at herself. "Huh. Now tha' I think abou' it… I dinnae ken. I havenae aged a day since I was completed."

Captain Leach was thinking as well, "Ships don't exactly age, not like humans anyway."

"Wai' wait wait." Interjected Repulse, "If we age like ships… Does tha' mean as long as we're maintained, we're immortal?"

My eyes widened, and I broke my usual princess character for once, "Holy SHIT."

 

[LtRainbowSlash]

Chapter 14: Soerabaja

During the action against the Japanese submarine Electra made history. She became the first ship-spirit in history to take command of her own hull. It was amazing to see how quickly the Navy was adapting to us, and the advantages of having a visible ship spirit. The next morning we arrived at our home for the foreseeable future, Soerabaja.

JANUARY 18 1942
0907 HOURS

The next morning I found both Jupiter and Electra on the latter's bow. The two were sitting on the number two gun's raised platform with their legs hanging over the edge. We were sailing at the head of the small three destroyer formation, with the other two E's line astern.

"Morning girls."

They both glanced over their shoulders at me as I approached. "Mornin' Wales." Greeted Electra.

I stopped and sat down beside the two. "What were you talking about?"

A look of melancholy came across Electra's face, "'ome." She sighed, "I miss it." Jupiter just nodded her agreement.

I gave a small nod, "So do I." We sat in silence for a moment. "Of everything at home I miss, I miss my sister most I think."

Jupiter sighed, "I miss mine too. 'Specially Jervis and Jav."

"Mmm. Guess I'm lucky my sisters are here with us ey?" Spoke Electra.

I gave her a small smile, "Quite."

Jupiter spoke again, "Weren't you supposed to have another three sisters, Wales?"

I gave a small nod, "Yes. Though I haven't the chance to meet any of my younger siblings yet."

"What are their names?" She asked.

I took a moment to remember the conversation myself and Kay had had just before I'd left for Singapore. She'd told me about the plans the navy had for our three younger sisters. "Duke of York, Anson, and Howe. York should be operational by now. Anson and Howe, were scheduled to begin sea trials this summer."

Electra patted my shoulder, "You'll be one 'ell of a big sister Wales."

I just gave her a side eyed look, "Is that complement, or a jab? Cause half the time I can't tell with you cheeky E's."

Electra just chuckled, "Compliment you big bint."

I just kept staring at her out of the corner of my eye, before shaking my head, "One day, someone is going to take offence and beat that smirk right off your face. You know that right?"

Electra's smirk just grew, "I'd like to see some bastard try."

I shook my head in exasperation while Jupiter just facepalmed. I went to change the subject.

"So what brought this on?"

"Hmmm?"

"The homesickness."

Electra just shrugged, "Couple of the lads got bloody 'omesick and started talking about it. I got a bit 'omesick myself. Now most of the crew's feelin' it."

I blinked, "You think your mood is affecting the crew?"

Electra just shrugged, "Maybe. Not like we know 'ow 'alf this magic shit works."

I glanced ahead at the entrance to the Soerabaja harbour, "Well it won't do for the Dutch and the Yanks to see us all down, will it?"

Jupiter just glanced at me, "Not like we can do anything about it."

I just gave her a sly smile and produced a vinyl, the one given to me by Duke all those months ago, "Au contraire, my dear."

Electra read the label, "Your predecessor made this?" I nodded and pointed to the first song on the record. Electra snorted and gave a smile, "Oh that'll do it."

Ten minutes later we were pulling into the harbour when Electra put on the record and hooked it into her tannoy. Jupiter and I had joined the ship's company on the rails in our whites. When the tune started and the previous Prince Of Wales started singing most of the crew looked a bit confused. But within moments of the first lyrics, recognition appeared on their faces.

By the time the chorus was about to start Electra had joined us. The moment she popped into existence she shouted, "Sing it boys!" They were all too happy to oblige, even as all three of us joined in, singing at the top of our lungs.

"It's a long way to Tipperary~!
It's a long waaaay, to goooo~!
It's a long way to Tipperary~!
To the sweetest girl I know~!
Goodbye, Piccadillyyyy~!
Farewell Leicester Squaaaaare~!
It's a long long way to Tipperary~!
But my heart's, right there!"

---

The crew seemed much more upbeat when we finally came alongside the pier. The port was busy, and I could see several warships moored. As we pulled up I spotted a delegation of over twenty people waiting for us. As we got closer a band in US Navy uniforms stuck up Hearts of Oak. Before I knew it Electra had been tied up and we descended the gangway.

Electra had tied up in front, while her two sisters were behind down the pier. The delegation was already waiting in front of Express. She was the flagship after all. I led Jupiter and Electra as we turned right and headed over. We arrived just as Admiral Spooner, Captain Leach and Express stepped onto the pier.

The group we faced as an interesting one. At it's head was a man I'd soon learn was Admiral Hart, commander of the American Asiatic Fleet. With him was a man in a Dutch Navy uniform, Admiral Helfrich. With them were a few captains, and a dozen ship spirits.

The officers were already exchanging salutes as we joined them. Repulse, Captain Tennant, and Encounter also joined us from the destroyer's hull.

"Ah speak of the devil," Admiral Spooner gestured to me, "This is Lieutenant Commander Windsor, or as you would probably know her, HMS Prince of Wales."

I gave a smart salute, "A pleasure, Admirals."

He also turned to Repulse as she joined us, "As well as Commander Mckay, who is HMS Repulse, and Captain Tennant. Current commander of the SNS." More salutes were exchanged.

"It's good to have you all with us." Nodded Admiral Hart. "Could you join us for a short meeting Admiral?"

"Of course." Nodded Admiral Spooner.

The American turned back to us, "Ladies. Allow me to present my flagship, USS Houston." He gestured to the shipspirit in question, "She has a briefing for you and will help you get settled in. Now if you'll excuse us." The officers headed off leaving us with our American and Dutch counterparts.

Houston was a tall lean blond, somewhere in the mid five foot range. She wore a white and grey getup that hugged her figure, with a small hat. Most striking were her golden eyes that matched her hair color.

She was the first to speak, "Howdy. It's nice to meet y'all. I'm Houston," She began pointing to the other spirits, "and that's Boise, and Marblehead."

Boise immediately jumped out to me, mostly thanks to her blueish green hair done up in a braid and matching eyes. She was about five and a half foot, and wore a gray and white top with a black skirt. Marblehead was a redhead with green eyes who was a few inches shorter than her newer counterpart.

Repulse took the lead as usual shaking Houston's hand, "Likewise lass." She went to continue speaking before she looked to the side and her face lit up, "Exeter!" Before any of us knew it Repulse had caught the York-class in a hug, "How've ye' been lass!?"

Exeter was a green eyed brunette in a black Royal Navy uniform with a skirt. She just chuckled as she returned her old friend's hug, "A good as ever. It's good to see you again Repulse." The two separated, but I could see the happy smiles on both of their faces. "It's been far too long." Spoke Exeter.

"Ye' got that right." Smiled Repulse.

Houston cleared her throat. "Sorry, but you two can catch up later. We need to get going." Repulse nodded a bit apologetically and Houston continued pointing out the last two shorter redheads, "Anyway, this is De Ruyter and Java."

The two differed in eye color and height. De Reuyter was just under five and a half foot, and had green eyes. While Java was just under five foot, and had blue. Both wore a green sailor shirt, Java with shorts while De Ruyter had a skirt.

"Now, if you'd kindly follow us?"

It was only a minute before we were ushered into a briefing room. Once the six of us newcomers had taken a seat with the other cruisers, Houston got to work. "So. Welcome to ABDAflot. With the six of you now with us, we may actually stand a chance. Now Admiral Hart has been communicating with your Admiral, and they've already sorted out the command structure. Rear Admiral Spooner is to be in overall command of ABDAFlot, while Admiral Hart will be commanding us at sea with myself as flag. From there down:" She gestured at me and Repulse, "You two will be BatDiv1, Repulse will have command. Myself and Boise are CruDiv1, under the Admiral's direct command. Java and De Ruyter are CruDiv2 under Rear Admiral Doorman, and Exeter is alone in CruDiv3. We've got the four fourstackers of DesDiv50 under Commander Talbot. And of course you four," She gestured to the three E's and Jupiter, "Will be DesDiv3 under Captain Leach."

I nodded to myself. That would work. Myself and Repulse were the heaviest allied ships within thousands of miles. We'd be the backbone of any taskforce that sailed.

I raised my hand as a question popped into my head. Houston glanced over at me, "Yes Wales?"

"Are we expecting to sortie any time soon?" I asked.

Houston gestured to the map that took up the wall behind her, "Depends on the Japs." She pointed to the east coast of Borneo, "They landed at Tarakan last week, so they're likely to go for Balikpapan next. We may attempt to intercept that force when they show up. They may try to land on Sumatra before the month is out. Just be ready to sortie at any time."

"Now," She pulled out a small pile of papers and passed them around, "Between our three navies we have different radios. I don't think I need to explain why that is a problem. Testing has shown normal radios can't tap into our transmissions between spirits, but RDF can pick it up as gibberish. Therefore when we are under radio silence we'll use the usual lamps and flags. Under combat conditions we will be the main method of communication between ships. On that paper are the syntax and protocols we will use. Any questions?"

There was silence for a moment. "No? Well, that's all, so you're free to go."

---

It was just after lunch that I found myself exploring the base. It wasn't a huge naval base, but it would do, even for a force our size. The three of us who were free of our hulls had been assigned rooms in the barracks. I'd gotten some lunch in the mess, and headed out to explore. I'd just passed the inner anchorage and was nearing the front gate when I noticed our four destroyers.

Outside the front gate and across the street was a large park with a football pitch. I quickly made my way out the gate, flashing my military ID to the guard on the way.

The four were of course, playing football, but it wasn't just them. There were also four girls I recognized as the american four stackers, and a few crewmen from both navies. The teams were mixed and the game was well underway. I found a seat on a bench to watch.

It was quite amusing to watch what looked like ten to fourteen year old girls go against adults and give them a run for their money. Jupiter especially had to be careful, thanks to her new form's extreme strength.

The game continued for another ten minutes before a noise drew my attention. I looked left to see Exeter taking a seat beside me. "Since we haven't been formally introduced," she started, and stuck out her hand, "Hello, I'm the York-class heavy cruiser HMS Exeter."

I gave her a small smile as we shook, "A pleasure Exeter. King George V-class Battleship, HMS Prince of Wales, at your service."

Exeter gave an amused grin, "Repulse wasn't joking when she said you have the princess act down pat."

I couldn't help but be a little embarrassed even as I replied, "Yes, well, I suppose it comes with the name."

She chuckled, "It does, doesn't it? Makes me happy I'm not named after one noble or another."

I just gave a minute shrug, "It's not so bad."

We watched the game in silence for a few moments before she spoke again, "Care to come into town with us tonight?"

"With who?"

She counted off the names on her fingers, "Myself, Houston, Boise and De Ruyter. I think Repulse is coming too. Oh and Zeven."

"Zeven?"

Exeter nodded, "Yeah she's an old armoured cruiser. You prolly saw her on your way in."

Now that I thought about it I had. She'd been tied up in the base.

"Where are we going?"

She just smiled, "To have a night on the town! We can do that now! All thanks to you two. How great is that?"

I thought about that for a bit. Myself and Repulse had gone into Singapore a few times, but most of our free time was spent on base, waiting in case we needed to sortie. But now I had two days of leave. "Eh, why not."

---

That evening as the sun was setting the six of us set off through the city. De Ruyter and Zeven led us. They were the most familiar with the city so they were acting as our guides. Myself and Repulse had changed into our summer dresses. We got a ride into town, the driver dropping us off outside a fancy looking hotel.

"Welkom to the Hotel de Boer." Spoke Zeven as she led us into the lobby. She spoke english with a thick dutch accent. "The bar is this way." She turned, and we followed her to the left into a bar area.

Before we knew it the six of us were at the bar. It was relatively busy at this time of night, with a good number of patrons drinking. Luckily the bartender understood English. I was the first to order, "A gin for me please."

As soon as I had my drink I stepped aside letting Repulse in, hearing her order a whiskey as I turned to look for a table. Seeing Ruyter wave me to the right, I followed her lead and entered into a large bar room, joining into what looked like a huge ballroom.

Finding one of the many empty tables scattered about I took my seat as De Ruyter joined me with her drink. Looking down at my own glass, I mused about the last time I had had a drink of Gin. Singapore had its good whiskeys and rums, but it had been since my previous life that I had had a chance to taste a proper Gin, my previous alcohol of choice.

Raising the glass to my nose, I let the fragrant smell fill my nose, before noticing De Ruyter staring intently at me. "Is there a problem?"

"Oh! Uh, no of course not, go ahead!" She replied with her light dutch accent.

Giving her a questioning look, I raised the glass to my lips, and tipped it back for a small sip. The refreshingly neutral taste of liquid tipped in, but it was not the strong, often heavily flavoured gins of which I had been used to before. Rather it seemed the opposite, almost no taste baring a small sense of… juniper?

"So…? How is it!"

Jumping out of my reverie I turned back to see the redhead eyeing up my drink with a happy smile plastering her face.

I raised an eyebrow, "Well it's uh… not quite what I was expecting?"

The smile seemed to fall off her face. "Not quite what you were expecting?"

My eyes widened. Had I committed some sort of faux pas? "Well..umm... It's not bad, I was just expecting something a bit more… flavourful?"

Ruyter's face crossed with a small frown, seemingly confused "But this is proper Dutch Gin, it's- it's… thats how its supposed to be!"

A small amused smile crossed my face as De Ruyter tried to express herself, "And as I said, it's not bad, but I think I prefer a more stimulating drink."

Ruyter pouted, "But Jenever gin is without a doubt the greatest drink! No other drinks compare!"

My brows furrowed in confusion. De Ruyter had only been activated for a few weeks, right? How did she know the taste of so many other drinks? My eyes widened, perhaps she too had been brought back from the futu-

"My Admiral told me! He said nothing compares to a nice sunny day, sitting in the breeze with your wife, and a cold glass of Jenever… Its sooo romantic don't you think?!"

Ah. I sighed. Nevermind. She was just a hopeless romantic, who hadn't tried much else in the way of alcohol.

Before we could continue a certain Scot spoke up as she approached the table with Houston and Boise in tow. "Enjoyin' yourselves lasses?"

The side of my mouth quirked up, "As ever." I glanced at the two Americans, "What did you two get?"

Boise just snorted and glanced at Houston, "She's a Texan. What do you think?" Houston just smirked and took a swig from her beer. Boise just continued, "I got whiskey."

The three sat down Repulse taking a swig. Houston opened her mouth to say something, but before she could speak Repulse beat her to it, "Ah for FUCKS sake."

We all turned to see the battlecruiser glaring annoyed at her drink. "Repulse?" I asked.

"Fuuuuuuck." She cursed, "I forgot, foreigners hear 'whisky' and think bourbon, fucking uncultured…" She said descending into mumbled curses.

"But bourbon is whisky?" Asked Ruyter confusedly.

Repulse just glared at her, "Bah, everyone knows Scotch is the only real whiskey lass! This shite is far too sweet!"

Boise just raised an eyebrow and gestured to Repulse's drink, "You gonna drink that?"

The battlecruiser just glared at her, picked up her glass, and emptied it in one go. "Aye. Now," She got up, "I'm going to go ask for a scotch." She walked off muttering about foreigners just as Exeter and Zeven joined us. Exeter had a cider while Zeven had a glass of gin like myself.

"What got her panties in a twist?" Remarked Exeter as she sat down.

"She asked for whiskey and got bourbon instead of scotch." Replied Boise.

"Ah. Sounds like Repulse alright." Nodded the heavy cruiser. She took a sip of her drink and blinked a bit. "Huh. So that's what cider tastes like..."

"Your first time drinking?" I asked.

I got a round of nods from the Americans and Ruyter. Exeter shook her head, "I get a rum ration as a member of my crew."

Zeven also spoke up, "I came here last week."

"What about you Wales?" Asked Houston.

"Oh, I drank a little in Singapore, annnd…" I trailed off. Had they heard about the two of us yet?

Exeter had, it seemed, "Ahhhhh, you two have that past life thing right? You would've drank then too."

I nodded, "Precisely."

Once Repulse had returned conversation flowed. Every so often one of us would head to the bar for another round. We all ended up with a different drink every round as the girls tried new drinks. It was rather amusing to watch our new fleetmates reactions to each new drink.

I was three drinks in, an amount of alcohol that would have made me quite drunk in my last life, and was still completely sober. It made me wonder if I could even get drunk in my new form. Most of the drink was just going into my stores after all. Some of it was converted into fuel and supplies, but a good amount just stayed as is.

How did you get a ship drunk? Put alcohol into her fuel bunkers? Not likely. I was just starting to mourn my ability to get drunk when one of my fairies popped out with a glass in his hand. "Oi Oi oi oi Oi?" He held it up to me hopefully. I just stared for a moment. Could you say a ship was drunk if her crew was?

The others were all looking between me and the fairy. "Oh why not." I muttered and poured the little guy a glass, while simultaneously opening up my rum stores and any other alcohol to the crew. Before I knew it a dozen of my fairies had hopped on the table and started drinking, while more did so aboard. I am SO going to regret this, I remember thinking at the time.

"What are those?" Asked Exeter as she stared at the six inch tall chibis.

"Fairies." Said Repulse as she took a sip from her Scotch, "They're our crew. And if'n I had to guess, you think gettin' 'em drunk will get you drunk, righ' lass?"

I gave a small nod, "Something like that yes." I turned to Exeter, "How is the scotch?"

"I can see why Repulse likes it." She replied. "I-"

Whatever else she said was lost on me as the alcohol hit me like a speeding dreadnaught. "Hoooooolllyyyy shiiiiiiiit." I muttered as I let myself fall face down on the table.

"Wales!?" Asked Houston from beside me.

I raised a finger from where I lay, "N-note to self. Ffffffairies are fffffucking lightweights. And-" I slowly sat myself back up and shook my head to try and clear my thoughts. It didn't work. "And don't let all of the little shits get drunk at once. Jesus fffffucking christ I'm SO drunk right now."

---

Hello, I'm Houston. And Wales wants me to write what happened after she got drunk since she doesn't remember any of it.

I must admit seeing Wales drunk was a novel experience for me. Unlike our British counterparts, our USN is totally dry. I'd never seen someone drunk in my entire life.

After Wales' 'note-to-self' Repulse gave the drunken battleship a grin, "Well, I'll be sure to take that te' heart lass. Drinkin' time lads!" With that her own fairies popped out.

I glanced over at Wales who had gone facedown on the table again, "What's being drunk like?"

She lifted her head to glance at me and speak. It was strange to hear the rough welsh accent from her, rather than the posh english one I'd come to expect, "Fffffucken weird. 'S like yer watchin yerself be an idiot from...I dunno. 'S like I'm a passenger."

My brow furrowed. That didn't seem enjoyable, "Then why…?"

She just gave a drunken giggle, "Cause it's ffffffucken ffffunny. Imma funny drunk." She finally sat up again and took another swig of gin, "'Sides, it les me be su-suv- Goddamnit I can't SSSSPEAK!" She seemed to concentrate, "It lets me be subjective about myself and be totally brutally honest. There, ha! Fuck you alcololhol I can speak right!"

Repulse, who was also well on her way to getting drunk but pacing herself unlike her partner in crime, giggiled, "Shite, yer real fucked ay Wales?"

Wales raised her glass like she was making a toast, "Like you wouldn't fucking BE-livesmus thing… what was I saying? Eh." She shrugged and downed the rest of her glass.

I glanced at the others. Ruyter was talking quietly with Zeven, while Boise and Exeter were watching Wales make a fool of herself with incredibly amused yet curious expressions. There was a thunk as Wales head smacked down onto the table again.

"You ok Wales?" I asked.

"No." She groaned.

My brow furrowed at her sudden 180 of emotions, "Wait what?"

"'S not okay."

"Wales…" I was genuinely dumbfounded by her behaviour. I had no idea what to do. Of course Wales was the one to keep speaking, quickly building into a rant.

"Imma' shitty battleship. 'Vrey time I get inna fffight I fffffucken lose." She sat up and stared me in the eye. I could see her tearing up a little bit. "Ffffirst I let down Hood, and g-got shot to shit by that damn fffucken j-jerry. Then I let Nelson get torpedoed in the Med. Then I got Repulse 'n I sunk, then I got torpedoed AGAIN trying to raid those fucken Nip cunts. No I'm not fuckin' okay! I'm a useless forty-three thousand ton hunk of steel that can't do ANYTHING RIGHT!"

Before I knew it Repulse was hugging the now sobbing Wales, whispering assurances to her.

I can still remember my exact thought in that moment: THIS is our mighty battleship?

 

[LtRainbowSlash]

Chapter 15: The Joy of Flight

When I woke up the next day I had the worst hangover I can remember. Not only did I feel hungover, but I was getting more of the same from virtually my ENTIRE fairy crew, which just made mine even worse. I often get thanked for my service, but for once I'd like to be thanked by my fellow ship spirits for being one of the first SHIPs and figuring out all these 'important' things the hard way for them.

JANUARY 19 1942
1107 HOURS

I'd wallowed in bed with my hangover till nearly ten before I dragged my sorry arse out of bed and to the shower. It was another half hour before I showed my face in the mess for an extremely late breakfast. By eleven I ended up in the shade of a tree on the base, quietly reading a book as I nursed the last remnants of my hangover.

I was a few pages in when a english voice caught my attention, "You alright there Wales?" I glanced up to see Exeter and the two American cruisers walking towards me.

"As best as can be expected Exeter." I gave a small nod to the other two, "Houston. Boise."

"Ya sure about that?" Asked Houston in her texan twang.

I stowed my book and waved her off, "Quite."

"Mind if we join you?" Asked Boise.

I shrugged, "Feel free."

The three sat down next to me. There was a slightly awkward silence for a few moments before Exeter spoke up. "Did you get that book you were looking for Boise?"

The american light cruiser just groaned, "Yes, and for the last time Exeter, it's 'Bois-ee'. The 'e' isn't silent!"

Exeter just shrugged, "Well it's you Yank's fault for not following the perfectly good rules of English."

Boise just rolled her eyes, "Whatever you say, Limey."

I just rolled my eyes at their antics. We all lapsed into silence for a few moments before Houston spoke up, "So what's the future like?"

I blinked a couple times in surprise at the question before answering, "Well. It's nice I suppose? Technology is incredible, and we have not had a big war since this one."

"Wait really?" Spoke Exeter, "But it's only been twenty years since the last one. What's to stop us from doing this all again?"

I mentally warred with myself for a few moments, before deciding to take the plunge, "Nukes."

"Whatsa Nuke?" asked Boise.

"Slang for Nuclear Weapons." I explained. "A single nuclear bomb can level a city. They are absurdly powerful."

"Christ. Sounds a bit far fetched." Muttered Exeter.

I just shrugged, "The first ones will be made in '45 and used on Japan, sooo…"

"Yeah, but how does it stop war?" The York-class asked.

"Because if someone starts a war, they get a few hundred nukes dropped on them and are wiped off the map. I believe it was called mutually assured destruction."

"Christ... That's horrible." Muttered Houston.

I just shrugged, "We haven't had another big war. You take what you can get."

Boise just shook her head sadly, "Says a lot about humanity that it took holding the world hostage to stop warfare."

Houston seemed to want to change the subject, "So what other interesting tech y'all got?"

"Well," I started, "Pretty much the same just, better. You can fly pretty much anywhere in the world in twenty four hours on an airliner. Cars are better. Better radios, TV, home appliances. Oh and computers."

"What? Like our FCS?" asked Boise.

"Well yes, but they're electronic. Digital." I pulled out my laptop, "This. This has got more processing power than all of our FCS combined." I put it away, "We also have the internet. Think of a giant system connecting every computer in the world."

Exeter blinked at me a bit dumbfounded, "What? How does that even work?"

I shrugged, "I just use it. I haven't the faintest."

"So what can you use it for?" Asked Houston.

And so that was how I spent my day, leading the cruisers down the rabbithole that was modern technology.

---

JANUARY 21 1942
1303 HOURS

Two days later I had just finished lunch when I'd been summoned to Captain Tennant's new office. I was wearing my usual whites as I entered the room and gave him a salute. "At ease Wales. Take a seat."

I did as instructed. We sat in silence for a moment as the Captain finished up the paperwork he was working on. He finished and turned to me. "So, during your interview with the intel lads back in Singapore you mentioned you'd been a pilot, correct?"

"Yes, sir."

He gave me a searching look, "Do you still remember how to fly?"

I blinked, "Of course sir. Why wouldn't I?"

He gave a small nod, "Would you like to fly again?"

A look of surprise mixed with excitement crossed my face, "I would love to sir."

He quickly pulled out a typewritten paper and quickly signed it, "Report to Exeter in one hour. Show this to her Captain. You're going up in her Walrus."

I took the paper. It was permission to the Captain to go ahead. "You had this pre-planned sir?"

Tennant just shrugged, "Being able to fly is a useful skill."

I stood and gave him a smile and a salute, "Thank you sir."

"Anytime Wales. Dismissed."

I spun and left. An hour later I arrived where Exeter was moored alongside the quay. Exeter herself was standing beside the gangway talking with some of her crew.

"-I don't care, Lieutenant. Just do it, that's an order." I heard her say as I approached. With a salute the officer and crewman scampered off up the gangway.

"Hello Exeter." I greeted.

She glanced over her shoulder at me and gave a small nod in greeting, "Afternoon Wales. You here to go flying?"

I flashed the paper the Captain had given me, "Got it in one."

She shook her head, "You couldn't get me in one of those things even if you paid me a million quid."

I stared at her like she'd grown a second head, "Really? But… it's flying. It's an incredible feeling."

"Yeah. No." The heavy cruiser shook her head, "I'm… not exactly good with heights."

I shrugged, "Suit yourself." I produced the paper the Captain had given me. "I need to give this to your Captain."

She nodded, "I'll go get him." In an instant, she was gone. Sometimes I quite missed the ability to teleport around. But it seemed that was a capability reserved for those still connected to their hulls. A couple minutes later she returned, Captain in tow.

"Lieutenant Commander." He addressed me as we exchanged salutes, "I'm told you have something for me?"

"Aye Sir." I spoke with a nod and held out the paper.

He took it and glanced over it. "All seems in order then. Head aft. The Walrus is already in the water just off the stern. Sub-Lieutenant Ashfeld is the pilot. He should be expecting you."

"Thank you, sir." I said. We quickly exchanged salutes before he departed back aboard. No doubt to get back to his duties.

Exeter gave me a smile, "Have fun Wales. And if you wreck my seaplane I will have your head!"

I covered my mouth to avoid laughing at the threat being delivered in such a cheery tone. "No promises." And with that, I spun and headed down the quay towards where the plane was moored.

As I approached Exeter's stern the plane came into view. There was a ladder down from the quay down onto the small dock that hosted the seaplane. The Walrus was an ugly aircraft, and one I was very familiar with: I had four of my own after all. It was an amphibious biplane with a top mounted pusher engine. The enclosed cockpit sat under and just forward of the wings. A Vickers K machine gun was mounted in a small open cupola in the nose, mirrored by another mounted on the aft dorsal fuselage. It sure wasn't a Spitfire, but it was more than capable in the scout, spotter, and ASW roles we commonly used them for.

I could see an officer in whites like myself and a rating working on the aircraft as I approached. I climbed down the ladder to the dock, and made my way over. "Hello."

The officer, who I could see now was a Sub-Lieutenant, glanced over and straightened when he caught sight of me. "Ah, you must be Lieutenant Commander Windsor."

I nodded, "I am."

He jumped down onto the dock and gave a salute. "Sub-Lieutenant Ashfeld, ma'am. I'm Exeter's seaplane pilot." He was young. Probably just into his twenties if I had to guess. He was clean shaven with short hair under his officer's cap. He pointed at the rating still working on the plane, "And that is Leading Seaman Appleby. One of my crew. Specifically the radio operator. My navigator won't be joining us. We aren't going far anyway." He turned and climbed onto the nose, "So we're taking you up?"

I nodded and followed him, "Yes. It's been some time since I went flying."

He nodded. The roof of the cockpit of the Walrus was more of a hatch. The entire thing could be lifted open, as it was currently. The young officer lowered himself in, and came back out with some flying kit which he set down on the deck. "So, anything specific we'll be doing? Or am I just taking you sightseeing ma'am?"

I blinked. What did he think I was here to do? "No. Were you not told? I'm a pilot."

Now it was his turn to look surprised. "But aren't you a ship spirit? Which ship were you again? And why would you know how to fly?"

I rolled my eyes, "In that order: I am. I'm HMS Prince of Wales. And myself and Repulse are reincarnates. I was a pilot in my last life."

He just stood blinking at me. A moment later he seemed to get over it with a shake of his head, "I'm literally talking to a ship. I suppose that ship being a reincarnate isn't the most unbelievable thing." He leaned down and grabbed a flying helmet with an attached mask and a Mae West life jacket. "Those are for you." He pointed out the remaining helmet and Mae West.

Glancing towards the back of the plane he yelled, "Kit on Jack! Get ready to fly!" There was a yelled affirmative and the sound of movement. We were getting the gear on when he asked, "How many hours do you have?"

"Ummmm…" I had to think for a moment before I remembered, "Just under four thousand."

Ashfeld froze for a second, "Jesus Christ. I've only got eight hundred. How long did you fly for?"

Now that I had an easy answer to, "I got my private pilot's licence when I was sixteen. Made a career out of it until I died in a crash at thirty-one. You?"

He shrugged and began to climb into the cockpit, "I joined the Fleet Air Arm reserve in '38. Soon as the war started I ended up aboard Exeter here. Been flying her Walrus ever since. When we're clear of any combat the Captain lets me have free reign of the planes for the most part, as long as I ask him. Most of my hours are from just going up while we're in transit or just patrolling around for subs." He glanced back at me, "What have you flown? Any seaplanes?"

I shook my head as I took the right side copilot's seat. "No. Mostly just small civilian aircraft. A couple twin engines, an aerobatic plane, and a private jet once."

He gave his, now very familiar, confused look. "A jet? Like what Wittle is working on?" I nodded. "But…?" He tailed off.

I picked up the slack, "I lived in the future too, probably an alternate world or something. Now can we get to flying?"

"Oh yeah, sorry." He muttered, and pointed to a small aperture to my right, "Intercom and oxygen go there." I quickly plugged in and buckled up while Ashfeld began to go over his checklist. "Ok, let's see," He spoke aloud as he went down the list, doing each step, "Electrics off, breakers are good, trim and controls good, fuel on both, mixture cut, master on, fuel pump on," There was the whine of the small pump, "throttle full, mixture set, throttle set," He leaned back to shout out the open hatch, "MAGS ON!"

There was the sound of Appleby spinning up the prop. The engine coughed once and caught, roaring to life. I just admired the sound. Every engine sounded different, and I'd never flown anything this old. There was a satisfying rawness to it. As I'd been admiring the experience Ashfeld had finished up his post start checklist. He flipped a switch and held his mask up to his face. "Intercom check. Check check." His voice came through the headset built into the leather flying helmet.

I held my own mask up to my mouth, "All good?"

He flashed me a thumbs up, "Jack?"

"Good back here. Let's go." Came the radio operator's reply.

With a nod the Sub-Lieutenant throttled up and began to taxi us out into the harbour. My radio crackled. "Have fun Wales!" Spoke Exeter.

It took a couple minutes for us to taxi out to an open stretch of water. "Ready?" He asked.

I nodded as Appleby responded, "Ready back here."

With one last check over the instruments, Ashfeld opened the throttle, and away we went. The takeoff speed was surprisingly slow, the Walrus almost eagerly leaping to the air. "What's our best climb speed?" I asked.

Instead of answering, the young officer handed me the aircraft manual. It took me a mere moment to find the relevant data. "May I?"

He glanced at me and nodded, "Take us up to four thousand. Your aircraft."

I took the yoke in my hands, and spoke a phrase I hadn't said in a very long time. "My aircraft."

I felt the light pressure on the yoke the moment Ashfeld let go. I kept my eyes outside while also checking the air speed indicator every so often. Five minutes later we reached four thousand feet, and I leveled off, trimming the aircraft for level flight. "Now what?" I asked.

Ashfeld just shrugged and gestured at the sky, "You're the one here to fly."

I let a happy smile appear on my face. "A'ight then. Hang on Appleby."

The next hour was pure bliss. I put the seaplane through her paces, doing everything from light aerobatics to high AoA practice and emergencies to stalls and spins.

I'd just pulled out of a stall when Ashfeld spoke up. "You weren't kidding when you said you had almost four thousand hours huh?" I glanced over at him as he continued, "You're not the best pilot I've ever met, but you're definitely the calmest. Never seen someone so cool after pulling the 'Your engine is gone' trick."

I just shrugged, "I've had that pulled on me enough it's second nature. Had my engine quit on me for real twice too. I've spent so much time in planes… I've just got experience really."

"No kidding," Agreed the pilot, "I think it's about time we head back."

I glanced out the window. We were up around seven thousand feet at the moment. I could see a jungled coastline far below, about ten kilometers away if I had to guess. "Where are we?"

"Just off the north coast of Madura Island. Not sure exactly but we can just follow the coast back to Soerabaja." He spoke. An internal glance at my charts allowed me a better idea of what he was talking about. Madura was the island across the strait a mere nautical mile from Soerabaja. Simply by following the coast west and around till we ended up over the port. Despite that I had my fairies quickly pinpoint our location using the coastline and the small town we passed.

We were ten minutes on our way when there was a bang. The entire aircraft shook and there was a crash as something smashed through the cockpit. As if that wasn't enough the reason soon became apparent. My adrenaline spiked as tracers zipped past the cockpit. "Shit!" There was the roar of an engine and a floatplane flashed past and peeled away.

I glanced over to see a hole the size of my fist in the fuselage beside Ashfeld. He was slumped over, and I could see a stain of red on the right side of his whites. I took controls, "Fuck! Appleby!"

There was muffled cursing, "Yeah?! What fuckin' hit us?!"

"Some kind of Japanese floatplane. Ashfeld's been hit." I shouted back. I glanced at the instruments. The rpm was dropping worryingly, and I could hear and feel the engine running rougher and rougher. I glanced out the window to see the floatplane looping around. "That Jap's coming around. Get on the gun." More muffled cursing.

I just focused on keeping the plane in the air. With how the engine sounded, I'd be surprised if it lasted five more minutes. I metally ran down my mental emergency checklist. There wasn't much I could do, I wasn't very familiar with this aircraft.

Though there was one thing… I powered up my most powerful radio. "Mayday, mayday, mayday. This is Supermarine Walrus Exeter I. Our aircraft has been attacked by an enemy aircraft, our engine is out. We will attempt a water landing, requesting assistance. Stand by for long and lat." I quickly checked my charts, "Six. fifty-one. twenty-six south, One-One-three. Two-Nine. Five-Two east. I repeat: Six. fifty-one. twenty-six south, One-One-three. Two-Nine. Five-Two east. Current heading is two-seven-zero, flight level seven. Three souls aboard. Anyone receiving please respond."

Before there could be a reply there was the clattering of a machine gun. A few more tracers passed the cockpit, but Appleby kept shooting. A moment later the gun went silent. There was the crackle pop of something connecting to the intercom. "Got 'em. Didn't shoot em down, but hit em a few times. Bastards buggered off."

"Great, now get up here and patch Ashfeld up." I responded. A glance showed a frightening amount of blood pooling on the floor.

The moment the Leading seaman opened the door behind me I heard a gasp. I could barely hear him over the sputtering shaking engine, "Oh fuck! Phil! Comeon, stay with us! Fuck!" He grabbed the young officer and pulled him into the aft compartment, and shut the door , leaving me alone.

That was when the engine finally died. I made sure to switch off the magnetos and shut off the fuel flow. I didn't need it catching fire. I was just focusing on gliding the plane when my radio triggered, "Fucking christ Wales! I told you not to wreck my plane!"

I felt a wave of relief, "Tell that to the Nips Exeter."

"Are you ok? What's going on?"

"Engines gone. I'm gliding west along the coast. Five thousand feet now."

"Wait, why you? Is Ashfeld…?"

"He's been hit. Appleby is patching him up."

"Fuck! How bad?!"

"Chest shot, I think, didn't get a good look. He's bleeding bad though."

"Oh god. Ok, Electra is just heading out to retrieve you. I'll try and get a pilot and medic into my other Walrus. Don't crash that plane Wales."

"We'll be fine Exeter. See you in a few hours."

I was down to four thousand feet now. The Walrus kept trying to pull to the right, like the wing on that side had lost lift. It was easy to correct on the yoke however. I was also coming to appreciate the excellent gliding qualities of the plane. We were definitely gliding better than any plane I'd ever flown.

It took five minutes of keeping the aircraft steady as we descended before we approached the water. The weather was clear and the sea calm. A godsend, seeing as I had no clue how to land on the water. I'd never flown a seaplane before, and thankfully never had any reason to ditch. My two previous deadstick landings had both been onto runways. That was one aspect that made this a far less stressful landing: the entire ocean was a runway.

I eased back on the yoke, bringing the nose up and letting the aircraft fly level and slow down. I kept glancing at my airspeed and altitude. Three Hundred feet. Two hundred. One hundred. I was low and slow now. With one last glance at the airspeed to satisfy myself I wasn't about to stall, I focused outside and judging my altitude. "Lower. Lower." I spoke to myself, as if I were instructing a new student. "Easy. Flare." I eased back again, leaving the flying boat gliding along mere feet above the water. "Hold it. Hoooold..."

The aircraft stalled, and bellyfloped the last two feet to the water with a light shudder. A moment later we coasted to a stop. I shoved the roof hatch open and yanked off the helmet. I ran a hand through my hair. I sat for a moment, all the adrenaline leaving my system. "Fuck me." I muttered.

I felt a sudden weight on my shoulder. When I glanced over there a doctor fairy greeted my eyes. "Oi? Oi oi!"

"Oh shit! Ashfeld!" I shot to my feet and scrambled into the aft compartment. Appleby was hunched over the young man, holding a bandage over the wound, which I could now see was on his shoulder. A trickle of blood ran down Ashfeld's forehead too.

Half my medical fairies were overboard and began to tend to the Sub-lieutenant instantly. I approached before one of the docs yelled at me to give them space. I sighed, sat down at the navigator's seat.

What a shitshow. We'd gone for a merry flight only to end up downed and with one of the crew bleeding out. All I could do was sit and watch my fairies try to save the young officers life, while I sat along with my thoughts.

---

Ashfeld survived. My fairies managed to stop the bleeding and stabilize him. By the time Exeter's other Walrus arrived, piloted by one of Houston's pilots, they had him on a stretcher and ready to go. Appleby went with him.

I stayed with the plane until Electra finally showed up. "Ello ya cunt! All good Wales?"

I stood up and stepped off the plane, my rigging and red uniform popping into existence. "As well as can be." I began to head over to her, but stopped and spun around to regard the plane. I quickly had my crew make some space.

"Wales? The fuck ya doin'?"

"I have an idea…"

I took my seaplane crane, and after having some fairies hop aboard the Walrus to rig the lifting gear, tried to winch the plane. To my surprise the moment I had it, it shrunk down to fairy scale. "Well that works…"

A few more minutes and the sticken seaplane had joined my other four. As I headed to board her hull, I could see Electra standing on her rail gaping at me, "You can do that!? What the fuck!?"

"Apparently." I replied with no small amount of amusement. "Let's head back."

 

[LtRainbowSlash]

AN: Since I'm a forgetful bastard who cant even remember to crosspost a chapter a day, Imma just dump all the rest of the chapters now to get caught up.

Chapter 16: Battle of the Makassar Strait

There weren't many dull moments during the first six months of the Pacific War for me. Between sorties, training, and generally interesting events, I had neary a moment to catch my breath. Luckily I had a few days after the Walrus incident to relax. But before I knew it, I was headed into battle once more. For once, it seemed my generally bad luck reversed.

JANUARY 26 1942
0350 HOURS

"WAKE UP WALES!"

I woke up in surprise at Repulse's yell over the radio, and ended up in a tangle of sheets as I tumbled out of my bed. "Owwwwww. Bloody hell Repulse." I groaned and began to get myself untangled. "Give a girl some warning next time." I radioed back.

"Not my fault ye' sleep like a rock. Now ge' up. We need to be aboard Houston within an hour. Get movin'."

With an annoyed muttered curse I struggled to my feet and made my way into my small bathroom for a quick shower. Fifteen minutes later, I was presentable and dressed in my summer whites. Despite the early hour and blackout, the base was alive with activity. I found my way through the darkness with a small torch. It took nearly twice as long to cover the distance to the quay. Once I arrived I gingerly made my way up the gangway. As soon as I set foot on the deck I jumped in surprise as Houston herself popped into existence in the darkness.

"Jesus Houston! You nearly gave me a heart attack! First Repulse and now you..."

The American just blinked owlishly, "Can we even have heart attacks?"

I glowered at her, "That's not the point."

She shrugged, "If you say so. Back on topic, you have free reign of my hull, just don't get in anyone's way. We have a briefing from the Admiral an hour out from port. Repulse is in the mess getting an early breakfast, if you want to join her. I'll see you at the briefing."

I gave a small nod, "Sounds good."

With a nod, the Texan disappeared back where she came from. I quickly got away from the gangway to get out of the crew's way as they made final preparations to sail and headed into the hull to find the mess.

It took me five minutes and asking for directions to find my way there. As I entered I spotted Repulse eating her breakfast. I soon had my own food and joined her. "Morning."

She glanced up and gave me a small nod, "Mornin'."

We ate in silence for a few minutes. I'd just finished eating, and was finally fully awake when a question popped into my head. "So why are we sortieing?"

She just shrugged, "Dunae look at me, lass. I dunae fucken know. Prolly some Nip landing force if I had to guess."

"Sumatra?" I asked.

She just shrugged, leaned back in her seat and tipped her officer's hat over her eyes. "If'n ye dunae mind lass, imma catch up on me sleep."

I let her, and pulled out a book to pass the time. I got about twenty minutes of reading before a tray of food was placed on the table. I glanced up to see our adorable resident J-class joining us. "Hello, Jupiter."

"Hey Wales." She yawned and sat down, "Repulse asleep?"

I nodded, "You know how she is."

"Mmmm." She hummed and began to eat. I went back to my book. A few minutes later she spoke again, "Wales?" I lowered my book to see she'd finished eating. An expectant look was sent her way. "What do you think will happen to us after the war?"

I hadn't really thought about that before. "Well… We're officers now right? And with all the paperwork that legally makes us 'people', as far as the law is concerned. I suppose we'll be free to do as we wish."

She blinked for a second, "Like, leave the navy?"

I gave a small shrug, "You could. Or you could stay on. It would be up to you." A hopeful thinking look appeared on her face, but soon dropped into sadness. "Jupiter?"

She gave a sad shake of her head, "I wish Jersey and Juno were still here to see this. Maybe they'd still be alive like I am now…"

"Your sisters?" I gently asked.

She just sighed a nodded, "Jersey got mined just outside of Valletta, and Juno got hit by bombers off Crete. Both in May last year… I miss them."

I stood up and took the seat next to the sad destroyer, and caught her in a hug. "I'm sorry."

Jup just shook her head sadly, not a single tear in sight, "It's war. I accepted they were gone months ago."

There was a part of me that was appalled. Here was an apparent pre-teen that had to accept her sisters had died fighting a war. Yet the other part of me knew this was what we were built for, and that she was far more mentally mature than she looked and acted. Like all destroyers. In many ways we ship spirits were probably more prepared for the rigours of war than your average person. Mentally at least.

I was broken from my philosophical musings when Jup spoke up again, "What will you do after the war then Wales?"

"Hmmmm." I had to think about that one for a second, "I'm not sure. I may see if I can go to school again. Get a degree in something."

"Like what?"

I shrugged, "Not sure. History or engineering maybe?"

Her eyebrows raised, "Weren't you a pilot?"

I nodded, "Yes, and I'll likely get my private licence again for fun. But last time I made a career out of it, it was an insane amount of work, didn't pay well, and I died young."

Jupiter just stared at me, "That's a frank way to put it..."

I just shrugged, "It is what it is. And I don't see it being worth it a second time." I idly noted that at some point the hum of Houston's engines had risen, and I assumed we were departing. "As nice as thoughts of the future are, we have to survive this war first."

Jupiter just pursed her lips and gave a small nod. "Yeah." A moment's silence, "Can we watch a movie?"

I just chuckled at the adorable hopeful look she gave me and pulled out my laptop.

---

We were an hour into The Lion King when Houston teleported into the mess. Her eyes immediately landed on the three of us. I nudged Repulse awake and paused the movie as she walked over, "Briefing time ladies. Ready to go?"

I stowed my computer and got to my feet with a stretch and a crack of my neck, "Lead the way."

A couple minutes of walking later, we entered the officers wardroom. The table in the centre played host to a large map of the DEI. Gathered around it were the other hullbound spirits. Those being Boise, our three E-class, and the four american four stackers: Peary, Pope, Ford, and Pillsbury.

Houston took a quick look around the room. "Good we're all he-" She started, only to cut herself off as the door opened. "Admiral on deck!" We all reflexively snapped to attention.

Admiral Hart of the USN was an older gentleman who most certainly fit his uniform. He was tall enough to look me in the eye, and had an air of confidence about himself.

"As you were." We all relaxed. He gave a look around the room, and a small smile appeared on his face, "I doubt I'll ever get used to this. Welcome aboard ladies." He produced a folder full of sealed envelopes and passed them to all the steel hulled spirits. "These are for your Captain's eyes only."

Task complete he turned his attention to the map, "Now I expect you are all curious as to why we're out here. Four hours ago one of our submarines sent a contact report, from here." He pointed to a point northwest of Manado in the Celebes Sea. He produced a small piece of paper and read, "'Four troop transports, two destroyers, course west, estimated eight knots.'"

"A Balikpapan invasion force?" Asked Repulse.

The Admiral nodded, "Very astute Commander Mckay. That is our hunch. We're making twenty knots up the strait. With any luck we should engage them at the narrows at sunup tomorrow, the twenty-seventh. Now our combat formation. Normally the flag is on the van, but Houston isn't exactly well armoured." The heavy cruiser in question made a small annoyed noise but conceded the point, "We all know the lead ship draws the most fire." He looked at me, "So we'll have the most heavily armoured ship up front. Followed by Repulse, Houston, and Boise. Destroyers will screen. Questions?"

"Why aren't we bringing along Exeter and th' dutch lasses?" The battlecruiser asked.

"Those three are being held in reserve, in case this is some sort of decoy or another landing force appears."

Boise held up her hand, "Radio procedures?"

Admiral Hart nodded at her, "We'll be radio silent until we engage. That includes you spirits and your radio… thing. Remember, RDF can pick your chatter up, even if all they hear is gibberish and static. Once we are engaged, you spirits will be the main form of communication between vessels. Anything else?"

We were all silent for a few moments, "Ok then. You three," He said indicating myself, Repulse and Jupiter, "will deploy an hour before we engage. Until then you may do as you wish aboard. Dismissed."

---

JANUARY 27 1942
0830 HOURS

It was time. The journey north had taken a full uneventful day. We were nearing the narrows at the north end of the strait, which despite their moniker were over sixty nautical miles wide. Even with my tall crowsnest I could only see fifteen. Of course, if I was in the middle I could see fifteen nautical miles west and east which would allow me to cover half the strait, but that still left far too much room to slip past.

My feet hit the water as my rigging and red uniform sprung into existence. I slammed my engines to flank, clearing Houston and making my way to the head of the formation. Repulse was right behind me. Jupiter sped past at her much higher flank speed, and soon formed up with the E's to screen us.

I'd just gotten into position when a light began blinking on Houston. "POW, LAUNCH SCOUTS TO LOCATE ENEMY TO NORTH. REPULSE, HOSTILE FORCE REPORTED BY DUTCH A/C SOUTH OF BALIKPAPAN LAUNCH SCOUTS TO LOCATE."

I blinked back an 'Affirmative' and began readying three of my Walruses for launch. Within ten minutes I had all three in the air heading north. The next half hour was spent in an abnormal silence. Normally we tended to chat away over our radios at every opportunity, but now that we knew RDF could track us, we had to maintain strict radio silence.

Despite the boredom that set in there was almost a feeling of freedom. The last time I'd been out under my own power for more than a few moments had been back in Singapore, as part of our testing that we'd done after I'd been repaired. There was a refreshing sea breeze as I steamed along at twenty knots that chased away the oppressive heat of the region. And without any chatter it felt as if I were alone, ignoring the fact that Repulse steamed a mere five hundred yards astern of course.

Twenty minutes later Houston's signaling lamp began flashing again. "CONFIRMED HOSTILE BLOCKING FORCE AT SOUTHERN END OF STRAIT. WE MUST HAVE BYPASSED THEM IN THE DARK. CONTINUE MISSION."

Ten minutes later, I'd settled into things when a burst of excitement from one of my Walrus crews drew my attention. I quickly took a peek through their eyes, and instantly began blinking a signal back to Houston and the others.

"A/C REPORT: HOSTILE CONVOY, BEARING 0-2-0, THIRTY NM, COURSE 2-2-0, APPROX 8 KNOTS, TWO D-D FOUR T-T-R. STANDBY."

I kept half an eye on my plane while the fairy pilot began to circle, well out of AA range. The rest of the four fairy crew began to take notes and get a better look through their binoculars. Houston soon had a new signal for the entire force.

"NEW HEADING 0-2-0, INCREASE SPEED TO 2-5 KNOTS."

I blinked an acknowledgement and followed the destroyers as they turned slightly right to our new course. Jupiter was in the lead directly off my bow. Encounter was also slightly ahead of me but off to the left, mirrored by Express on the right. The next pair ran abreast Repulse, with Electra on the right and Pope on the left. Behind them, and abreast Boise at the back were Peary and Ford, while Pillsbury sailed at the rear of our battleline.

Five minutes later my Fairies had another report which I blinked back. "A/C REPORT: SAME AS LAST, SIX T-T-R ONE C-L THREE D-D."

Houston's lamp blinked back. "ALL SHIPS, STANDBY SURFACE ACTION."

A sensible order. I rang my action stations alarm and ran up my battle ensign. All three of my seaplanes had now homed in on the hostile force. I'd use them for gunfire spotting once the action began.

Twenty minutes later I spotted a smudge on the horizon. "CONTACT, BEARING 0-2-0, 3-0 THOUSAND YARDS."

Instead of a blinking light as I expected, Houston's texan twang broke the silence. "Here we go y'all. Radio silence lifted. Standby for surface action starboard."

I gave a small nod and began traversing my huge main caliber turrets right, like everyone else. "Target assignments?" Asked Repulse.

There was silence for a second as Houston no doubt forwarded the question to the Admiral. Then, "At your discretion Commander. This is your show until I get into range. Also formation come port to 3-5-0. Speed twenty eight knots."

I could hear the predatory grin on Repulse's face as we turned, "Understood. What can yer' planes see Wales?"

I quickly checked and replied, "Looks like the light cruiser is at the front. The destroyers are screening the convoy's flanks."

"A'ight. You take her. I'll take the wee shite on th' left." Repulse ordered.

"Got it." I immediately set my rangefinders and FCS to work on a solution, as I hit my flank speed. We were sailing at just enough of an angle to fire broadsides now. "I read twenty-eight thousand yards. You?"

I glanced back to see Repulse nodding, "Th' same. Your radar up to take range?"

I shook my head, "Negative. It's on the fritz again. The humidity just destroys the internals." And nothing I seemed to do could fix it. Have I ever mentioned how much I hate the tropics?

A few moments passed in silence before Boise spoke up, "They haven't noticed us."

"Their mistake." Replied Electra, "An' one we'll punish 'em for."

The next moment I had a solution locked in. With a nod I loaded my main battery. "Ready to engage."

Repulse spoke next as her guns elevated, "Here too. Houston?"

A moment of quiet as she relayed. Then, "BatDivOne. Clear to engage, fire at will."

"Understood. BatDivOne cleared te' engage. Count us in Wales!"

"If you say so," I replied with a shrug, "On zero. Three. Two. One. SHOO-!"

The rest of my sentence was cut off by the blast of ten 14-inch and six 15-inch naval rifles all firing as one at the enemy twenty-seven thousand yards away. My guns lowered into their reloading positions, and my gun crews got to work. All that was left was to settle in for the minute long wait.

---

If I introduced myself as 'the lucky boat' would you know who I am? Some of you would no doubt. For those who don't, I'm the second of the Shiratsuyu-class destroyers, Shigure. 'The one that always got away'.

On January twenty-seventh, nineteen forty-two, I was escorting a convoy of troop transports, destined for Balikpapan on Borneo. Along with me were the other members of my division, Destroyer Division 27: My big sister Shiratsuyu, and the Hatsuharu-class destroyers Ariake and Yuugure.

I was sailing just ahead of the convoy, listening for submarines. My crew was relaxed. None of us expected combat any time soon as we sailed along at a mere eight knots. Perhaps a submarine or two, but the blocking force would deal with any proper threats before they could even enter the south end of the strait.

I'd just finished a game of chess with 'Tsuyu and returned to my own hull, when Ariake spoke up. "Uhhhh guys? I think I see a ship."

"Really?! Where?!" Shouted my ever energetic sister. I felt curious too, and teleported myself up to the bridge.

"2-0-4. On the horizon." I gave myself a pair of binoculars and took a look. Ariake was right. I could see two faint smudges on the horizon.

"Looks like a pair of cruisers?" Said Yuugure.

I looked again as my sister replied, "Maybe? We're in trouble if they are."

I opened my mouth and was about to add my own opinion when I was cut off by the thundering of airborne shells, "Incoming!" I reflexivly ducked as they hurtled overhead and splashed into the sea well past me. The sprouts of water thrown up were colossal. Those were definitely not 8-inch. A second salvo landed short of Ariake. I stood back up as my battlestations klaxon sounded. "Cruisers!? Those are battleship shells!" I yelled over the radio.

Yuugure's voice shook as she went next, "Oh god we are sooooo dead."

Icey fear gripped me. She was probably right. Four destroyers against a pair of battleships in broad daylight? We needed a miracle. As I watched the two battleships' guns fired again. By now my Captain had taken control and ordered the other destroyers to form up on me, while the transports turned away and ran as fast as their engines could take them. I leapt forward as my engines powered up to flank. The next salvo landed short and behind.

The other three destroyers formed up behind me, line astern, and we turned to charge the enemy, and buy time for the tansports. Our only chance were our torpedoes.

The battleship's third slavo threw up columns of water behind me. "Evasive maneuvers!" Ordered my captain. I began to zig-zag back and forth, hoping to throw the battleship's aim off. Fifty seconds later the next salvo thundered in.

The evasive maneuvering didn't work, and I fell to the deck screaming in pain.

---

To my annoyance my aircraft had misidentified the lead destroyer as a light cruiser. That was almost a good thing, as that left them with even less firepower than we expected. I'd fired three salvos at her so far. One had gone long, one short, and one had missed long again by only a hundred yards or so. Of course two guns in my Y-turret had jammed in the process.

At twenty-five thousand yards, my fourth salvo caught her dead on, and two 14-inch HE shells exploded against her hull. In less than a second her entire midships exploded and caught fire. She fell out of the lead of the formation, rapidly losing steam. "Got her!"

"Good shot Wales!" Spoke Repulse, "Retarget! Get the third in line!"

I was about to reply in the affirmative when Houston cut in, "I'm in range. I've got the last one in line. Opening fire." There was the crash of guns from behind as Houston opened up.

More shells and powder bags were fed into my hungry guns. My breaches shut, and the guns elevated. A second later I fired at the destroyer formerly third, but now second in line, as the badly damaged lead ship turned away. Forty seconds later it splashed long. I adjusted and fired again. At twenty-two thousand yards they turned broadside, sending the salvo short and behind. I'd just fired again when Repulse gave a cry of victory. I glanced over to see her target with a small fire and turning away.

The other two destroyers followed her, pumping out smoke and attempting to disengage. "That's it! Run you nip fucks!" Electra yelled after them as my next salvo went long.

My fourth salvo straddled my target. My guns were already loaded and waiting for the splashes so I could correct my aim. Instead I simply fired, and switched over to rapid fire. My next salvo left my rifles a couple seconds before the previous salvo landed. A second later there was a visible flash of a shell hit as my salvo threw up huge water spouts around her. I hammered a fresh set of shells into my rifles and fired again. Only to begin cursing as an ammo hoist in my forward quad mount jammed.

I needn't have worried though. Another shell from my next salvo also struck the destroyer, and she visibly slowed. Thirty seconds later my next salvo smacked two shells into her amidships, leaving her ablaze. I took a moment to check the other targets.

The lead destroyer, Repulse's target, was ablaze badly amidships, but still steaming away at over thirty knots. The trailer, who Houston and Boise were shooting at, was dead in the water.

The radio crackled as Houston began to speak, "Repulse, help finish off Wales' target and-"

"TORPEDOES IN THE WATER!!" Electra yelled, cutting her off, "Zero-three-zero and comin' fast!"

"All ships turn away! Turn away!" Barked Houston. I was more than happy to oblige, and had begun turning the moment Electra had shouted her warning. I scanned the sea for torpedo tracks as I turned, but couldnt see anything.

BA-BOOM

I was halfway through my turn when there was an underwater explosion. Electra screamed.

"Electra!" Both of her sisters yelled in concern.

I glanced over my shoulder to see the destroyer under a large waterspout which rained back down on her deck. As far as I could tell the torpedo had caught her amidships on her starboard side, the side facing away from me. She was rapidly losing speed.

"Electra! Report!" barked Repulse.

Electra groaned in pain as the rest of us turned to avoid the torpedoes. "No boilers." She ground out through grit teeth. There was a cough, "I 'ave no steam. Major floodin' amidships. Scratch tha', extreme floodin' amidships." She gave a dark, pained laugh, "Guess I'll be joining you girls in the SHIP club soon."

"Oh Electra." I said sadly.

"Eyes on the prize ladies. The torps just ran past. New orders from the Admiral. Encounter, go get your sister's crew. Everyone else. General attack. Let's go get that convoy!"

There was a chorus of affirmatives as we turned back to engage. The two Japanese destroyers were just where we'd left them, dead in the water. I brought my guns to bear on my previous target… And hesitated. She was sitting there, dead in the water and helpless. Her turrets were wrecked, and a fire burned. If I sank her she didn't have the same luxury we did. She'd be dead, forever.

But this was war. She was the enemy. And I doubted she'd show me the same mercy.

Repulse noticed my hesitation, even as she landed two shells on the other destroyer, "You ok Wales?"

I grit my teeth, and fired. A moment later she disappeared in an explosion as four of my shells stuck her, and touched off her magazine. "I'm fine. Let's catch and sink those transports."

---

I was lucky. The first 14-inch shell that struck me blew a hole just aft of my bow, below the waterline, causing flooding. The second was the worse one. It had hit my deck and detonated amidships. The blast and shell splinters had set off all six of my torpedoes. The blast from all six torpedoes had led to a fire, flooding, and ruptured two of my three boilers, leaving me limping away from the battle at a mere twelve knots. I'd managed to get over the horizon before the enemy could notice me limping away to the east.

What followed was infinitely more painful than getting hit had been. I'd listened to the screams of my division mates as they each got hit. I was currently trying to comfort Yuugure over the radio.

"Idon'twannadie. Idon'twannadie. Idon'twannadie."

"It's ok. Yuu, please calm down, it will all be ok."

"Oh god they're coming back around! Shigure! Help! I'm scared! Tell my sisters I'm sorry! And that I love them!" The poor girl was nearly hysterical.

I was crying too, "I will."

"I… I… Oh god please don't kill me! I surrender! Please! Just board me! Take me as a prize! Please don't kill me! Please- NO!"

I felt my heart drop as her radio cut out. She was gone. My tears grew until I was sobbing in pain, both physical and mental, and grief. I felt sure I was going to die as well. I was still flooding. I had maybe an hour or two before I sank.

I was still crying ten minutes later when my radio crackled again, "Shi-Shigure? Are you?" I recognized 'Tsuyu's voice, even through the quivering distress.

I sniffed and wiped away my tears, "I'm still here, 'Tsuyu."

There was genuine joy in her voice when she replied, "Oh thank god! I thought I'd lost all of you. Where are you?"

I wiped my face and blew my nose on my shirt. "Limping for the Celebes coast. I'm flooding, and going to sink in an hour or two, so my Captain is going to run me up on the beach."

I heard a huge sigh of relief from my sister, "Good. Good." She paused for a moment and gave another sigh. I could imagine her with her head in her hands, "Where did it all go so wrong…"

I bit my lip, "Probably when Intel dismissed the report from Isonami that Repulse and Prince of Wales were still afloat as misidentification."

A sob escaped my sister, "Goddamnit!"

---

If I'd felt bad about sinking the Japanese destroyer, I felt horribly guilty shelling the transports. There was nothing they could do as we closed in and pelted them with all manner of shellfire. They weren't even proper warships, waddling away at fourteen knots. Even when I closed to a mere four thousand yards to finish one of them off, the most resistance was a couple inaccurate shots from a bow mounted 4-inch before one of my shells vaporized the mount, crew and all.

Twenty minutes of shelling and a dozen torpedoes from the destroyers later, all six transports were sinking. We turned away and formed up. Myself and Repulse joined Jupiter in climbing back aboard Houston.

"Well tha' went well." Repulse beamed at me as she helped me over the rail, "Two destroyers an' a whole landin' force! No' bad fer a day's work eh lass?"

Despite my guilt I felt elated at her words. I felt a smile cross my face. "Yes." I let out a happy laugh, "Finally, a victory where I'm still in once piece at the end!"

"Atta girl!"

Houston also smiled as she joined us, "You pulled your weight today Wales. That was some mighty fine shootin'. What was that at the beginning? Four salvos?"

I gave a nod, "Yes. I got a bit lucky, but my FCS is a godsend."

Repulse tapped the American's shoulder, "Wha' 'appened wi' tha' surface force te the south?"

Houston nodded, "They were a blocking force of heavy cruisers. Seems they deployed them to stop any ships from Soerabaja from interfering with the landing force. We must've slipped past 'em in the dark last night. Admiral seems to think we can slip by 'em again tonight, close to the Borneo coast. But you two will need to be ready to deploy if we do run into 'em."

"Alright," I spoke and shared a glance with Repulse, "We can manage that."

"Speakin' o' the Admiral…" Repulse snapped to attention, "Admiral on deck!"

He just waved us off, "As you were ladies. Excellent work today, both of you. Especially you Wales. That's some of the best damned gunnery I've ever seen."

I couldn't help the small smile that crossed my face, "Thank you sir."

"I've heard you girls have voracious appetites, so I won't hold you from the mess hall any longer. Good work."

---

"Come on Shigure. Just a bit more, you can do it."

My chief engineer's voice was the only one audibly urging me on, but I could feel the rest of the crew thinking something along those lines. I was a mere nautical mile off the coast of Celebes. Everything was pain. My flooding had gotten worse, and I was listing fifteen degrees to port and down by the bow. Only my aft turret was still operational. My entire midships was wrecked. My human form was battered, bloodied and bruised in a morbid reflection of my hull.

By some miracle my damage control crews had slowed the flooding to a trickle, and extinguished the fires. Some of my bulkheads leaked, but it was manageable. My single boiler was still driving me along at nine knots. My pumps were going as hard as they could. I had maybe three or four hours before I sank.

My Captain knew it, and had made the decision both he and I believed would save my life. I was going aground. I counted the yards to shore. Two thousand. One and a half thousand. One thousand. Five hundred. Four. Three. Two. "Brace for impact, engines all stop!" Ordered my Captain.

There was a shudder as the bottom of my bow struck sand, and slid. I rapidly decelerated, my bow rising from the water as it went up the sandbar. I slid forward, and ground to a halt, tipping over sharply onto my port side. I finally settled a couple hundred yards from shore, my bow mostly out of the water and leaking, listing thirty degrees to port.

I was alive.

I cried then. In pain. In sorrow. In grief.

I ended up sitting on that sandbar just off shore for two months. By the time Akashi showed up, after the DEI had been secured, I was rusted badly, and most of my lower decks flooded. I had to be patched up, refloated, and towed to Soerabaja for a full rebuild. I wouldn't re enter service until November.

The thing I regret most about that horrid war was how many friends I lost. Ariake and Yuugure were the first.

In hindsight, trying to take on the Allied Powers, and America in particular, was utter folly. Kongo was proven right: our country lost its way, and we paid for it.

For many years after the war I held a grudge against Prince of Wales and Repulse for obvious reasons. Ten years ago I would have never considered writing this for Wales. But things have changed, and I'd like to thank her for allowing my side of the story to be told. I doubt many westerners would ever know what we ships of the IJN went through otherwise.

If I had to take one lesson the war taught me, it is this: One must always remember, even your enemies are still people.

---

AN: I felt so bad writing this chapter. Mostly cause I really like Ariake, and I just killed her off. That definitely is the worst part of writing this story is killing characters we all love. I still love the concept and story, but my own story makes me sad sometimes XD

 

[LtRainbowSlash]

Chapter 17: A Short Break

While I felt quite guilty about my part in what we jokingly referred to as the 'Massacre at Makassar,' I also felt incredibly proud. For the first time in my career, I'd taken part in a battle that was an undoubted victory. And my gunnery had earned me accolades not just from my fellow spirits, but our commanders as well. I'd finally proven, both to myself and the world, that I was a capable battleship. Unfortunately for us, the battle was a wakeup call for the Japanese. The next time we fought, they'd be ready for capital ships. But that was still in the future. For now, we had time to celebrate, and take a few days for ourselves.

JANUARY 29 1942
1643 HOURS

"There you are Wales!" Exeter's Devon accent greeted me as I stepped onto the beach. We'd been given the day off so we'd decided to have a small victory party on the beach just east of the naval base. "What took you so long."

I just shrugged, making my sundress flutter a bit, "I just had to take care of a few things."

She just gave a small 'hmm' of acknowledgement, and turned to a cooler and sun chairs she'd brought. "Cider?"

"Sure." I happily took the bottle she offered. Taking a sip and a seat on one of the chairs I gave a small nod, "Not bad."

Exeter sat down on the other, "So I hear you sank a pair of Jap destroyers?"

"Aye," I nodded, "Set off the first one's torpedoes on the fourth slavo and sent her to the bottom, and shelled the other till she went under."

"Not bad." She gave me a teasing smile, "Still less tonnage than me I'm afraid."

I was just about to ask her what she meant when Repulse came striding up the beach in her one piece, "Oi! Nae ye' don't! Graf Spee doesnae count. Ye' didn' sink her, she scuttled herself."

The heavy cruiser just pouted, "Yes it does."

Repulse scoffed playfully, "In yer dreams lass. Ye' get a third of her, at best. 'Ey Wales."

I couldn't help but be amused at the byplay between the two friends, "Hello Repulse."

"Oi, Wales?" Exeter said, changing the subject, "How long have you been commissioned?"

I flushed, "Uhhhh, ten months?"

The cruiser just shook her head in amusement, "That young and you've got me beat experience wise. A least for surface action."

I blinked, "I do?"

She pointed at herself, "River Plate." She then pointed at me, "Denmark Strait, Kota Bharu, Makassar Strait."

Repulse just nodded, "Ye're already th' second most surface combat experienced battleship in th' navy lass. After the Grand Old Lady of course."

I shook my head, "You've been with me for most of the time too, Repulse."

She inclined her head and took a sip from her cider, "Aye, tha's true. I'm tied with ye. But ye've gone toe to toe with a capital lass. I cannae claim tha'. Last time I saw a battleship I ran away." She chuckled, "A part o' me is happy to finally see some action again."

A look of confusion crossed my face, "Wait, when did you see combat?"

Exeter beat her to it, "Helgoland Bight in the last war wasn't it?" Noticing I'd finished the cider, "Another Wales?"

"Sure."

As I opened the bottle Repulse looked like she was going to start a story, "Tha' was an interesting fight. Jerry was trying te' get through th' minefields we'd set all around th' German coast. We went te' ambush 'em. Th' lights and destroyers got intae a fight with their German opposites. Me an' Renown were brand new, the fastest capital ships in Europe. Renown was in fer maintenance though, so she missed it. Anyway, they sent me ahead, and I got intae range o' th' Jerry cruisers. Opened up on 'em. Got nine salvos off, then a pair o' bloody battlewagons showed up. I was right out o' there. 'Till Kota, tha' was the only time I'd gotten tae shoot th' enemy."

I shook my head, "I forget how old you are sometimes Repulse."

She gave me a sidelong glance, "Just dun call me a grannyboat."

"Of course not," Exeter shot back, "You can actually catch us, unlike the destroyers." Repulse just gave an amused chuckle. "You saw quite a bit of history in your last life huh?" Exeter asked

"Aye." The battlecruiser nodded, "Lived through th' whole Cold War."

Exeter's eyebrows rose questioningly, "What's that?"

Repulse took a sip of cider, "Th' Cold War is wha' we call th' competition 'tween the U.S. an' th' Soviets. Lasted from the end o' this war 'til the ninties. Buncha little proxy wars with the threat o' the end o' the world hanging over our heads."

The heavy cruiser glanced over at me, "That those nukes you were talking about Wales?" I gave a nod as I took another drink. "Shit. That's kinda dark."

Repulse raised her cider in a faux toast, "Humanity at it's finest!"

---

JANUARY 30 1942
0307 HOURS

CRACK

"Get back!" I yelled as I shot up in my bed. My heart hammered in my chest and my adrenaline was up. I was soaked with sweat, and not just from the equatorial heat. I looked around in panic before I realised where I was.

As my brain rebooted I looked around in confusion. My bedroom. A nightmare? And wasn't my bed taller than this? I reached up to turn on the bedside lamp.

The light revealed much. For a start, I normally slept in just my underwear, thanks to the heat. Instead I was wearing my red uniform. Black pants, boots, sash, and all. Which also meant…

I groaned in annoyance as I got to my feet on the remnants of my splintered bed and flattened mattress and dismissed my rigging. "Damn."

It looked like I wasn't getting any more sleep. With another sigh I went into the bathroom to have a quick shower.

Ten minutes later I was wearing one of my sundresses as I entered the mess in search of a cup of tea. To my surprise I spotted Boise sitting at one of the tables, nursing a cup of coffee.

I quickly got my cup. She looked up as I made my way over, "Couldn't sleep Wales?"

I nodded and sat, "Nightmare."

The light cruiser sighed, "Me too. You'd think the lord would've made us of tougher stuff. We're literally made for war."

"But if we were, would we still be human?" I asked.

She just glanced at me, "We aren't human. We're ships."

I lifted up my hand to stare at, as I opened and closed it. I wiggled my fingers as I spoke, "We wouldn't be having this conversation if we were just ships. I was human, in my last life." I gave a small shrug, "I still feel human, just with a few more parts."

We lapsed back into silence. I took a couple sips before curiosity got the better of me, "What did you dream about?"

Boise hesitated for a second. I didn't blame her. I didn't particularly want to speak of mine. She seemed to make up her mind and said, "I mostly worry. I haven't lost much so far. I dreamed Houston and all the four stackers were dead. You?"

I bit my lip, "This is going to sound dumb, but… Hood, and the Japanese ships we sank were all blaming me for killing them. I mean, I did kill them. Not Hood but…" I trailed off.

"Wales?"

"Hmm?"

Boise took a swig of coffee, and began, "If I've learned anything in the last two months: War is hard. Killing is hard. Some people just aren't cut out to be soldiers. You are right on the borderline." I furrowed my brow and began to interrupt but she waved me down, "I'm not saying you're a bad soldier, I am not questioning your bravery. From what I've seen so far you're more than capable." She sighed and took another sip of coffee. "I know you also view fighting this war as your duty. You're one of the most powerful ships afloat right now."

"Your point?" A asked, somewhat testily.

"I'm getting there." She replied, "It's not that you are incapable of waging war. But even in the short time I've known you, I've come to find that under that princess mask, you are one of the most empathetic people I know. You have no problem in combat, but the moment you have a few moments to process, you feel guilty. That's a good thing. But if you keep fighting this war, it's going to change you."

"I… I…" I felt myself deflate, "How can I not? They're all people. And the ships we sink, they never get this chance we have."

She just shrugged, "I'm still mad about how they suckerpunched us. I knew Arizona. Far as I'm concerned, bastards deserve it."

I sighed. I didn't think I could be that harsh. Boise stood up, "Well, the boys in the boiler room need some direction. My number two is acting up and the blind idiots can't seem to find the issue. Gotta point it out. Good talk Wales." And with that, she left.

I sighed again, and got up to get another cup. The rest of the early morning hours were spent alone with my thoughts.

---

0840 HOURS

"Oi, cunt!" The young cockney voice on the radio snapped me awake from where I'd fallen asleep at the mess table. The mess was busy as various officers ate breakfast. Luckily it seemed I'd been left alone. "You up Wales?"

I yawned and stretched, "Yeah Electra, I'm up. What is it?"
"Got a fucken mail bag. Cap'tin Leach has us sortin' it for the crews. Got a letter for you here."

There was a flash of curiosity as I wondered who had sent me a letter. I mentally shrugged and got up. "Where are you?"

"Dock, where we're tied up."

"On my way." I replied and began walking.

I arrived at the quay a few minutes later to find the four destroyers sitting on the grass nearby sorting mail. No doubt for Encounter and Express' crews. "Hi Wales!" Waved Jupiter.

I smiled at the sight, "Hello girls. You've something for me?"

"Yup! 'Ere's your fuckin' letter." Said Electra as she held it out.

"Thank you." I said. I looked over the envelope. On the front in flowery cursive was:

LtCdr. Gwendolyn Windsor
HMS Prince of Wales​

But what really caught my eye was the sender address at the top left:

Cdr. Georgia Windsor
HMS King George V
​

"Who's it from Wales?" Asked Jupiter, no doubt seeing the surprise on my face.

"Kay." I let out a amazed but happy laugh, "It's from Kay!" Their faces all lit up at the prospect of word from home. They'd all known me long enough to know my name for my big sister.

"Well? What's it say?" Asked Express.

I hurriedly opened the letter and began to read out loud.

January, 7th, 1942
Dear Wales

You know, when I said to be careful that didn't mean 'Get hit' right? Christ, you nearly gave me a heart attack sister. I thought you were dead for nearly three days. And then, even though you can now, you didn't even write. Come on Wales, you're better than that. I've been worried sick.
But I am also told you're responsible for all of us finally being visible? I honestly never thought the day would come. Napier pulled into Scapa from Cape Town just a couple days ago, and she spread it from there. There had been rumours for a week about ship spirits among the crews. The response has certainly been interesting. The government is taking an interesting approach to all this.
The Navy itself is adapting to us rapidly, as militaries are want to do. If you couldn't tell from the envelope, I've been made a commander. As the flagship the Admiral has decided to use me for something of an experiment. I've been made my own XO, officially and in practice. I've only held the position for a few days now, so I've yet to truly dive in, but I think I shall do alright.
The government is keeping things an 'open secret'. They're censoring any mention of us in the press. Rumors about us are swirling around in the civilian population, but a lot of it is misinformation. I'm told the idea is that keeping it completely secret is impossible at this point, too many civilian ships have been activated. But if what the enemy learns of us is wrong, they may waste time and effort, and fail at getting their own.
Our little sister Duke of York has been commissioned, and she's currently following in your footsteps, taking the Prime Minister to meet the President. I'm hopeful you'll get to meet her in the near future. She's eager to meet you. You may get a letter from her as I believe she was writing one.
Anyway, I have to get back to my duties. Do be careful Wales. I love you sister. Good luck.

Your Older Sister
Kay

Jup gave a happy laugh as I finished reading the letter out loud. "That means all my sisters are visible by now too! Have fun sorting girls! I have letters to write!" The three E sisters exchanged a look and, without a word, as the only SHIP among the three, Electra produced a pen and paper from her hold.

Well, I'd have been remiss if I didn't follow their example. I made my way back to the mess hall and sat down. Pen and paper in hand I started writing:

January 30th, 1942
Dear Kay

I must admit it was a surprise to receive your letter, but a welcome one. The thought hadn't even crossed my mind if I am honest. Things have been so hectic since the Pacific War began.
We're doing alright out here. I don't know how much you know about what happened, but myself and Repulse actually sank, but were able to pop off our hulls to become SHIPs. We were then able to make the others visible, and things have spread from there.
Repulse is a godsend. She always knows what to do. She's also a Commander and second in command for the Special Naval Service, of which all of us SHIPs are part. The Americans and Dutch are all good girls. We all get along decently. The commanders, not so much. There's quite some friction between the admirals of ABDAcom. But we manage.
I've taken part in two actions since the war started, and sunk three destroyers and four merchants. I suspect there will be more fighting to be done over the next few weeks. I must admit, I find myself getting used to the rush of combat. Adrenaline is a hell of a drug.
I miss you, and everyone back home. Please don't do anything I would, ok? Give my love to everyone. Stay safe.

Your Little Sister
Wales

---

FEBRUARY 6 1942
1139 HOURS

A few days later I was walking to the mess for lunch when I noticed Houston leaning against the wall of the headquarters building. I was about to open my mouth to ask what she was doing when she held a finger to her lips to shush me. As I got closer I began to make out the voices from the open window above her.

"Look we can't afford to just throw away our ships." Spoke a voice I recognized as Admiral Hart.

The dutch accent of Admiral Helfrich was the one to respond, "It is not 'throwing them away. We just need one proper counter-attack and the Japanese will cease their advance. The only reason they're still advancing is because we haven't shown them how superior our capabilities are."

"You shouldn't be eavesdropping Houston." I whispered to her.

She just gave me a cheeky smile. "No harm, no foul. Admiral Hart has been annoyed recently, and I wanted to know why." She whispered back. ""Sides, you're curious too aren't you?" I bit my lip. She was right. With a sigh, and much to her amusement, I settled in to listen.

Admiral Hart had continued, "And as I said, that is suicide. They're just as capable as anyone else of making capable warships and aircraft, they've already made that very clear."

"So, what? We just give them the Indies? You, sir, are a coward." Shot back Helfrich

"Gentlemen, please!" Barked the voice of Admiral Spooner. "The Japanese have already made it very clear what will happen if we go charging into range of their bombers without air cover, but there are gaps we can exploit, as we did at Makassar."

"It's not enough! We have to show them our superiority in overwhelming fashion!"

I heard Spooner scoff, "Then you are free to take your cruisers and destroyers, and try your luck. But I am not throwing away British capital ships for your delusions." There was the sound of footsteps and the door opened, "Let us know when you want to discuss actual strategy." And with that the door shut.

Houston tapped my shoulder and gestured to me to follow her. We arrived at the mess a minute later. She shook her head as we went to get our lunch, "Fucken shitshow huh?"

I blew out an exasperated breath, "That's not good. We need to be working together."

Houston shrugged, "We're all for it, but that damned dutch idiot. He's been on us constantly, suggesting ridiculously aggressive sorties."

We ate in silence for a few minutes before Houston snapped bolt upright in her seat. "Houston?"

"Ahhh fuck. Admiral just boarded my hull."

I raised an eyebrow, "So?"

She gave me a resigned look, "He only does that when we're going to sortie." She gave a smile without any real warmth, "Here we go again."

---

AN: Gonna be unable to post the chapter tomorrow, but it's done so here ya go. Next one's gonna be fun XD

 

[LtRainbowSlash]

AN: Ladies and gentlemen, the moment you've all been waiting for. Time for a good old fashioned Gunfight.

Chapter 18: Battle of the Java Sea, Part 1

Ten days. That was how long it took for the Japanese to react. And react they did. Search aircraft picked up another troop convoy heading down the Karimata Strait with heavy escort. Simultaneously we received reports of Japanese landings on Sumatra. When the troop convoy entered the Java sea and headed for Banjarmasin on southern Borneo, we sortied to intercept.

FEBRUARY 7 1942
0920 HOURS

"Quite a force huh?" Muttered Repulse from where we stood on Houston's bridgwing. We were only fifty nautical miles south of Borneo. The last report had put the escort at no less than eight heavy cruisers. Hence, we were out in force, with the entire fleet formed up in parallel columns. We'd rendezvoused an hour ago with the light striking force from Batavia: Perth, Hobart and Tromp.

Houston, who's hull I was aboard, led the right column, followed by Exeter, Boise, Hobart and Perth. The right column was led by De Ruyter, followed by Java and Tromp. Screening to port was DesDiv50: Pope, Peary, Ford, Pillsbury. Express, and Encounter ran out front sweeping for submarines. The Dutch destroyers HNLMS Kortenaer, And HNLMS Witte de With joined them. And finally the destroyers of DesDiv58: USS Alden, USS John D. Edwards, USS John D. Ford, and USS Paul Jones, sailed off to our starboard.

Houston came striding out from the bridge, Jupiter and Electra in tow. "Time to deploy girls."

"Same formation as last time?" I asked.

She nodded, "Yup. They should be ahead, sixty miles or so on the last report. Get your planes in the air as soon as you can."

"Aight," Spoke Repulse, and she began to head down the stairs to the deck. "Time te' earn our pay."

It took us a few minutes but before long the four of us SHIPs were on the water and maneuvering into formation. I took the lead while Repulse slotted in between myself and Houston. Electra and Jupiter sped off to join the other two E-class.

A moment later I sent one of my Walruses zooming into the sky, joined a moment later by Repulse's own aircraft. The roar of more aircraft engines drew my attention back down the line just in time to see a small swarm of gunfire spotters being launched from the cruisers. Boise and Houston launched their OS2U Kingfishers, while Exeter, Hobart and Perth sent their own Walruses up. They were soon joined by De Ruyter, Java and Tromp's Fokker seaplanes.

I could only watch in amusement as the ten seaplanes formed a ragged formation and headed off towards where the Japanese waited. They'd act as extreme range gunfire spotters, and hopefully allow for more accurate gunfire.

We continued on in silence at a brisk twenty-four knots. I had my gunnery, fire control and damage control fairies running a few last quick drills. I was still running them ten minutes later when my radar pinged a contact. My head snapped around as I tried to spot it, and I began blinking a signal to the others: 'SINGLE AIRBORNE CONTACT, THREE-ZERO-ZERO FIFTEEN MILES'.

I got a blinking acknowledgement from Houston. Beyond that, there was little we could do. I had my fairies man the AA guns, just in case, and waited. Five minutes later the plane came into sight. I couldn't identify it beyond it being some sort of Japanese floatplane. In a fit of curiosity I turned my RDF equipment towards it. Sure enough I picked up a radio signal. I was even able to listen in. I was greeted by a Japanese voice, "Teki o hakken. Ni Seki no senkan." I kept listening to the rapid Japanese for a few seconds, but it was all gibberish to me. It didn't matter anyway, I could guess what he was saying. We'd been spotted.

Houston apparently thought so too. "Radio silence lifted y'all. They've seen us."

None of us had much to report or talk about. So, predictably, the idle chatter started almost immediately, "What do you think we'll fight today Repulse? Battleship or two?" Asked Exeter.

The battlecruiser audibly scoffed, "I'd honestly rather not. Bu' I'm all fer bullying a few cruisers."

"Oh comon Repulse." Electra's cockney butted in, "Wheres yer fuckin' sense of adventure!"

Repulse just deadpanned, "At th' bottom o' the Nor' Sea with me cousins ya' wee bawbag."

'Here we go again' I thought to myself as Electra shot back, "Yer' jus' scared, grannyboat."

"Donae 'Grannyboat' me ye' numpty!"

"I wouldn't have to if ye' weren't such a daft trollop."

"Awa' n bile your head."

""ow about I don't, knob 'ead."

"Bampot."

I don't swear often, but when I do it's often when I'm so annoyed that my Welsh accent comes out, "For god's sake, shut the fuck up! We're about to go into battle, and you two twits are pulling this shit?! I know it's a bloody sport to you two muppets, but now is not the fucking time!"

That shut them up. Express gave a small whistle, "Now ye' two've done it." She gave a small laugh, "Wales is pissed."

"Can it." I growled.

"Shutting up ma'am."

Repulse was quick to speak, "Yer right. Sorry Wales. Prolly not the best timing."

I huffed, "You're just lucky Houston isn't on this channel."

A small chuckle, "Aye, ye' got tha' right."

Exeter laughed, "You haven't gotten that into it with someone since Tiger, eh Repulse?"

The battlecruiser adopted a wistful tone, "Aye. 'Lectra reminds me o' her."

"I do?" The destroyer in question spoke up.

I glanced back to see the distant figure of Repulse nodding, "Aye lass. Yer' jus' as feisty and jus' as much o' a little spitfire as she was."

Our conversation was interrupted by Boise, "Uhhhhh guys? I think my plane has spotted something."

I immediately checked in with my own aircraft. Sure enough they'd spotted some distant smoke. The ten seaplanes, two fairy, eight normal, were still flying in a loose gaggle. We all watched through our pilot's eyes with bated breath as they approached the contacts. I pulled out an actual, physical IJN recognition manual and opened it to the cruisers.

I had the feeling everyone else was doing the same when Exeter spoke. "Looks like at least four cruisers?"

De Ruyter spoke next, "Ja. At least those four lead ships in the main column. Maybe more?"

"There, look. Behind 'em." Perth's aussie accent said.

I got the impression Repulse was nodding. "Good eye lass. That'll be th' troopships."

It was a large force. A battleline was steaming with a fair number of escorts a fair distance ahead of the troop convoy. They had already turned to intercept us, and were steaming a good rate of knots. I examined the larger ships through my fairies' eyes for a moment before consulting my manual. "No, look, that's six heavies. Looks like… Four Atagos, two Nachis?"

The destroyers were all listening to our chatter with rapt attention, not having any aerial eyes of their own. "Six heavy cruisers!? Holy shit!" Exclaimed Pillsbury.

"Maybe?" Muttered Boise.

There was a sharp intake of breath from Repulse, "Oooohhhhhhhh fuck."

"Repulse?"

Instead of answering me, she surprised all of us by broadcasting in the clear, "Oi! Kongo! Tha' you lass!?"

I don't know what I was expecting as a response, but a fluent, Northern English voice certainly wasn't it. "Repulse!? You're alive, dess!?"

I could tell there was a sad smile on Repulse's face as she replied. "Aye. It's good te' hear from ye' cous."

I could only blink in surprise at her perfect English accent as the Japanese battleship replied, "I wish I could say the same cousin, but I think we're about to start shooting at one another. Sorry about all of this by the way, dess. My country has lost their collective minds over the last fifteen years."

Repulse sounded a bit down as she responded, "I'd say you're forgiven, buuuut…"

"But we attacked you, I know." Kongo sounded somewhat miffed as she continued, "I don't know what the crazy bastards were thinking. We may have been able to handle one of you, but the USN and the RN? I guess we'll see how long we can drag this out. My money is on eight years, dess."

That got an amused chuckle out of both myself and Repulse. "I give it three an'a half lass. Anyway, good luck."

"And you as well cousin. Oh before I forget, how did you survive, dess? There's pictures of you sinking. Unless… That wasn't your sister was it?"

There was a moment of silence as Repulse thought about her response. "Nae, tha' was me."

"Then how are you alive? We thought it was maybe Renown and another KGV that replaced you two but..."

"Sorry lass. Classified."

"Oh alright, dess. Hopefully we both survive this. I'd surrender right now if I could, but we both know that's not how it works. Try not to kill my sister though? Good luck."

The radio cut and Repulse came back on the fleet channel. "And tha', ladies, is how impersonal this war is. Seriously, fuck this damned war. I'm about to try killin' me own cousin!"

"Are you going to be alright, Repulse?" Came the concerned voice of Houston.

"Aye." She all but ground out, "I'll do my duty."

"Alright." Houston replied, and asked, "Question from the Admiral: How confident are you two in engaging those two Kongos?"

Silence for a moment, "Standby." A moment later Repulse spoke on our private channel, "What do ye' think lass?"

I mulled that over for a second, and flipped to the right page in the manual I was still holding. I took a second to examine the older battleship's specs before I replied, "I'm better in every respect but speed. I'd imagine I have a better FCS as well."

"How thick's yer' belt again?" She asked.

"Fourteen point seven. Six on the deck."

"Shite, I forgot you've such thick plates. She can't pen ye' outside of twelve thousand yards."

"Oh…" My eyes widened in realization, "Ohhhhhhh. Well then. I could prolly take them both. I'll probably be shot full of holes, and only sink one of them, but I'd win."

"Don't get cocky Wales. But tha' was my thought too." She switched back over to the main channel, "Wales could take 'em alone, so with me we've go' a pretty good shot."

"Understood." Replied Houston, "Ruyter? What's our last count?"

"Four heavy cruisers, all either Nachis, Mogamis, or Atagos. Two Kongos. At least twelve destroyers. Another six destroyers at least, escorting eight troopships in the back." The Dutch CL rattled off. I bit my lip. That was a lot.

"Copy. Wait one." Houston said. No doubt she was helping Admiral Hart deliberate on whether to engage or not.

We all waited in silence for the next five minutes, kept company only by the sound of our engines and the sea. I took the time to check my map. We were a mere forty miles south of the Borneo coast. And now a mere thirty from the Japanese to our northwest. I also took another look through my fairies eyes at the Japanese fleet. The two Kongos lead with all four of the heavies line astern. Around them sailed nearly a dozen destroyers.

I was brought out of my observations by Houston, "Alright y'all. Get ready. We're goin' in."

"What's the plan, boss?" Perth asked.

Houston began to explain, "We are going to engage the enemy battle line in a running battle, and try to lure them away. De Ruyter, Java and Tromp, you three will turn back around to the south, and try to loop around to catch the troop transports. Understood?" There was a chorus of affirmative answers. "Let's get to it then! Ruyter? Admiral Doorman is free to maneuver. Take Kortenaer and Witte de With too."

Ruyter's Dutch accented voice was bubbly as ever, "You got it!"

Houston was back on instantly, relaying further orders from Admiral Hart, "The rest of y'all: Formation turn starboard to zero-zero-zero, make speed two-eight knots. We'll cross their T as they come over the horizon."

I followed Jupiter and Electra, the only two other than myself and Repulse who were SHIPS, through the turn and cranked up my turbines to flank. The two SHIPs, along with Express and Encounter, were in a symmetrical screen ahead of me. Electra was foremost to my right, with Express behind and further to the right. Jupiter and Encounter mirrored them to my left.

Silence gripped us once more, as we all began to feel the pre-battle jitters. "We've got this, right?" Boise spoke awkwardly and nervously.

I couldn't help the butterflies that began to flutter in my stomach, even as Perth said, "We'll be fine."

The waiting was the worst part. "Fuck." I muttered, leaned over, and threw up into the sea.

"Ye' a'right lass?"

I just waved the battlecruiser off, "Just pre-battle nerves."

Another minute passed as I produced a napkin to wipe off my face. I just finished when excitement from my Walrus crew drew my attention. From their high vantage point they could just make us out. Which meant-

"Run up the battle ensign, prepare for surface action to port, action stations." I muttered to myself. With a mechanical whine my big turrets began their long forty-five second turn to port. My Walrus crew began feeding reports back to me, which were input into my Admiralty FCS. I glanced over my shoulder to see Repulse's turrets traversing as well.

Houston, being right behind us, noticed this and relayed a new set of orders from Admiral Hart, "BatDivOne, weapons free. Engage at your discretion."

"Wales, I copy."

"Understood. We'll open up as soon as we have a solution." Repulse reported. Then to me on our private channel, "Fire as soon as ye've got a reasonable shot."

"You sure?" I replied, "That'll be extreme range."

"Aye lass." She affirmed.

I just shrugged, "If you say so."

A minute passed. I could see smoke on the horizon now. We were crossing their T. Two minutes. Three. Four. A mast popped up over the horizon. My own directors went to work. Thanks to the partial solution I already had from my Walrus, it took a mere thirty seconds.

I took a deep breath to calm my speeding heart and triggered my radio, "This is Wales. I am engaging. For King and Country." My salvo buzzer rang. At an estimated 32,000 yards, near my maximum range, at 1043 on February 7th, 1942, I fired the first shot of the Battle of the Java Sea.

BANG

As usual the blast of all ten of my guns was blinding and deafening. I had a few moments to collect my wits, and my gun crews went to work. I had them work much slower than usual on this occasion. It would be over a minute before my salvo reached its target, and I could adjust thanks to my spotter. In the meantime the slower pace would allow for less mistakes and hopefully reduce the amount of jams.

"Fucken 'ell lass. What range is tha'?" Repulse asked.

"About thirty-two thousand?"

"Jesus-fuckin'-christ! Stop making me feel old!" She griped.

I held my reply as my shells splashed down, way long. I adjusted and fired again, before turning back to the conversation. "What have I done?" I asked as I glanced back at her.

I could see her distant human form gesture at me, "Tha'! I cannae shoot further than twenty-four thousand!"

"Oh…" I quickly shut off the radio before laughter took me. Only 23,000 yards? That was pathetic! I felt bad for laughing, and I still don't know why it was so funny to me. Perhaps it was the stress of being in combat (even if I was the only one shooting at the moment).

Either way I managed to get myself under control before my second salvo met water. Way long again. Another adjustment, another salvo. I reactivated the radio, "-f you're laughing at me a swear to god, Wales."

I cut her off, "No no, nothing like that. Radio had a problem. Fixed now."

"It better have." She threatened.

I was quickly distracted by the fall of my shot. Way short. Biting back a curse I adjusted my aim, and fired again. Moments later as my Walrus crew watched, the lead Kongo's forward guns flashed, and she began to turn to port to unshadow her rears. The range was thirty-two thousand yards. I could see the upper parts of her superstructure over the horizon now.

The enemy battleline straightened out, still on a closing course, but at an angle that allowed the use of their aft guns. As soon as they completed their turn the second Kongo opened up.

My salvo went long again, but not my as much. I'd just fired when the Japanese shells came tearing in. Four huge waterspouts erupted nearly three thousand yards long. I glanced back as the second Kongo's slavo roared overhead, clearly aimed at Repulse. It too went long, but I couldn't help but feel amused at the sight of Repulse reflexively ducking.

I chuckled, "First time?"

She stood up and brushed herself off, despite not needing to. "Bein' shot at by battleships? Aye."

I turned my attention back to the Japanese just in time to see my salvo fall just short. That one was close. Very close. A tiny minute adjustment and my sixth salvo left my barrels.

The radio spoke again. "This is Houston, engaging."

"Let's give 'em what for!" Cheered Exeter, as the two heavy cruisers opened fire at twenty-six thousand yards. Their four Japanese counterparts returned the favor no more than ten seconds later.

Ten seconds after that, three things happened at once. The first was Kongo's salvo hammering into the sea, well short. The second was Repulse yelping in surprise as the other Kongo sister got lucky and straddled her. The third was my own salvo straddling Kongo.

Even as I snapped off my next salvo, and had my gun crews begin loading as fast as they could, my real concern was for Repulse. She was still in formation, right behind me. "Oi! Don't just sit there! Go evasive!"

"What? Why?" Questioned the battlecruiser.

I just sighed at her inexperience, "Oh I don't know. Why don't you ask Hood? Now MOVE!"

"Ok, I'm going!" She kicked her turbines up to her own flank speed, turned starboard out of formation, and began zigzagging. "Houston, they've got my range. I don't have a shot so…"

There was the usual moment as Houston relayed, "Got it. Do what you need to Repulse."

At that moment I fired. Three seconds later my previous salvo splashed around Kongo, and my spotter plane noted a flash and puff of smoke. "Hit!" I cheered, and checked the range. 25,300 yards. Not bad.

In the back of my mind there was a small part of me jumping for joy, though not about my gunnery. I was making history. Even if I'd been mostly interested in the Napoleonic Wars, just the knowledge that what I was doing at the moment would be written down and remembered was quite exciting.

Of course I was doing my best to assist in that endeavor. My photographer fairy was happily snapping away, after taping my phone to my bridge window to capture my first person view of course. And with a crew as large as mine I'd managed to scrounge up ten fairies that were logging everything. One kept my official log book, one was in the Fire Control room, logging every salvo in extreme detail. Two others were up by my fore and aft fire control tops, keeping log of the friendly cruisers' and destroyers' actions respectively. One did the same for the enemy. And so on and so forth.

But, despite all this, I would remain mostly unaware of the history being written a mere three ships behind me, until after the battle.

---

Greetings. I am the York-class Heavy Cruiser Exeter. Dear Gwendolyn has requested I write this account of the events of the Battle of the Java Sea, so I shall.

I shall begin with the moments leading up to the event. I'd opened up on our opposites with Houston four minutes before, but so far failed to find the range. I was with Captain Gordon at the bridge window, watching the fall of shot.

I'd just fired a salvo when my radio came active. "Houston, Boise. Are us lights allowed to open up?"

I checked the range. We were just under twenty-three thousand yards now. There was a brief pause before the flagship relayed, "Let 'em have it."

"Roger. Boise engaging."

Hobart's Australian voice was next, "Let's show the Nips why you don't fuck with the Aussies Perth!"

"After you sis." Perth replied bemusedly. One by one the three light cruisers opened fire. By unspoken rules we'd each engaged our opposite number. Houston took the lead CA, I took the second, Boise took the third, and the two Aussies ganged up on the last one in line.

I'd just fired again when the water around me erupted. "They've got our range." My Captain observed.

"Orders, sir?" I asked.

"Keep calm and carry on." He replied, just before my guns spoke again. Forty seconds of silence later my salvo splashed around my opponent.

"Straddle!" I reported.

"Rapid fire." He ordered. It was the last thing he'd ever say.

"All guns, rapid fire." I relayed through my talker's mic.

My last word had just left my mouth when the scream of another enemy salvo arrived. The next few moments were a jumbled mess of confusion as my human form was thrown across the bridge, and out into the air. I had just enough time to realise I was airborne before the water greeted me.

The moment I hit the water I found myself automatically teleported back to my bridge. I stood stunned for a moment as a splitting headache blossomed in my skull. I looked around in shock. Most of my bridge crew lay dead or writhing on the deck.

If I had been capable of it, I would have thrown up when my eyes landed on my Captain. Or at least what was left of him. There was just a pair of legs laying on the deck.

Everything replayed in terrifying clarity in my head, and for once I hated my hull omniscience. A Japanese 8-inch shell came through the bridge at an angle. It had struck my captain dead on, turning him into red mist. It had then carried on to strike my human form where I stood beside him, dead in the chest, launching me through the air and overboard. The shrapnel from the shell's entry had cut down most of the remaining crew on the bridge.

Hand still shaking from shock I activated my talkers mic, only to realize the wire had snapped when I went flying. Instead I spun around to the Tannoy, "Medical and second watch to the bridge, medical and second watch to the bridge."

I turned back to see the helmsman, who had miraculously avoided injury. I could see the fear and worry in his eyes as his hands on the wheel shook. "M-ma'am? Who's- Who's in command?"

The XO, I was about to say. But then I realized I'd taken not one but two hits from that salvo. The second shell had punched through my deck and detonated adjacent the auxiliary steering position. My XO's action station. One crewman was dead, and my XO was already being carried to the sickbay with four other wounded.

Ok… Then my third in command? My eyes landed on the Lieutenant cowering in the corner of the bridge. He'd been the officer of the watch, and managed to avoid getting hit. But now he was curled up and gibbering in terror. I didn't blame him, but wrote him off as unfit for command.

So fourth in command? "Oh." I muttered in surprise. "That's me."

"Lieutenant Yorke?" The helmsman asked confusedly.

"I am." I spoke with more confidence than I felt, "I have the con."

He boggled at me, "Ma'am?"

There was the scream of shells as another salvo straddled me and a jolt. I grimaced in pain as a shell detonated amidships, starting a fire frighteningly close to my engine rooms.

I shoved the pain down and fixed him with my best command stare, "I have the con."

His face firmed up, as the second watch bridge crew arrived and took their positions. "Lieutenant Yorke has the con, aye."

"All ahead flank, hard to starboard. Take us zero-three-zero." I ordered. Then I keyed my radio. "This is Exeter. My Captain, XO and third officer have been incapacitated, I have command. I am making evasive maneuvers to avoid further damage."

"Understood Exeter." Houston replied, "Return to formation when able."

"Wilco." I replied turning back to the helm, "Standard port rudder."

One of the ratings, an Able Seaman Cooper, turned back to me, "Are we disengaging ma'am?"

I shook my head, "Not yet lads. We've still got plenty of fight left in us. Let's get to it!"

---

AN: This was originally one giant chapter, but I decided to make it two parts, so here ya go!

 

[LtRainbowSlash]

Chapter 19: Battle of the Java Sea, Part 2

While Exeter had been making history as the first spirit to be her own CO, I'd continued exchanging fire with Kongo. I'd landed two more hits on the old battlecruiser, for a total of three.

I'd just fired another salvo when Repulse steadied up from her previous weaving, and fell into line behind me. "Fucken' finally!" With a crash, her six fifteens opened up.

I was about to cheer her on when another salvo came in. The water around me erupted and I felt a shell smash clean through my forward director. "Ow! Fuck!" I cursed and clutched my left eye. My hand came away slightly bloody. I felt reports filtering in of casualties to my director crew, and FCS team scrambling to try to reroute my gunnery through my aft fire director.

My own salvo straddled my opponent, though no hits. My next salvo was already downrange. This was going to be a test of gunnery and endurance. Whoever could last longest, and be the most accurate would win. My next salvo struck home, as another flash appeared. Kongo's gunners had locked me in though, as another slavo straddled and a shell struck me. This one punched through my structural deck just aft of my bridge, burrowed down a deck, slammed into my actual 6-inch deck plate, ricocheted off, and went tumbling across my width through several compartments before detonating, destroying a kitchen.

Oh no, part of my crew doesn't get hot food. However will I continue fighting? I bit back the urge to make more sarcastic comments, and let loose another salvo with all of my spite. It may not have damaged anything important to my combat effectiveness, but it still hurt.

Of course, I wouldn't be a KGV-class if my guns didn't start jamming. Twenty minutes into the engagement I'd had a couple of temporary jams on individual barrels, but my crew were more than experienced in getting them fixed. This time my entire Y-turret jammed. I metally cursed. A call came up from my damage control crews warning me that it would likely be at least 10 minutes before they could restore turret rotation.

I'd just fired my next salvo when Repulse gave a grunt of pain. I glanced back. "You okay?"

She nodded with a grimace. A small trickle of blood ran down from under her hair, "Hit me superstructure an' overpenned. Gonna get outta th' way." She reported as she broke formation again.

I nodded, "Just tie her up. Don't get hit. As long as she's wasting time firing at you zigzagging, she isn't engaging me. I deal with the lead, and then help you."

"Make it quick!" She shot back as a salvo smashed into the water where she would have been.

I looked back to our enemy. They'd turned dead broadside, and kept the range at just over twenty thousand yards. My salvo fell short, due to the turn.

My next salvo was on target, as was Kongo's. I grit my teeth. This was going to be a proper fight, with the two of us pummeling one another, until one was out of the fight or sunk. Which was probably going to be Kongo, but that didn't mean I wouldn't be battered and bloody at the end of this. I was not looking forward to the pain. Speaking of…

Even as my spotter reported two hits from my salvo, a japanese 14-inch shell smashed through my bow, right at the waterline. I grit my teeth as I felt water begin flooding in with every wave, my damcon fairies rushing to plug the hole.

Reports from my damage control crews quickly became muddled into reports coming from my fire directors, lookouts, and from radio transmissions pinging from the rest of the fleet. "...Straddle. Target Hit. Advise. Maintain Ran…" "Flooding entering Lower Deck - Fore, requesting further pum…" "...is Houston, B-turret's destroyed…" "...Lookouts still report no strike aircraft are in sight." "Bravo, Lieutenant Obvious!"

Despite her, in comparison, antiquated design, even I had to admit that Kongou was putting up a damn respectable fight. Our next exchange resulted in my salvo going just long, and one of her shells ricocheting off my belt. Back and forth we went, slugging the hell out of each other. The minutes of combat began to melt together. Fire, straddle, miss, fire, straddle, hit, followed by the whomping crack of a 14" shell bouncing off my deck armour in turn...

Salvo by salvo however the total of reports echoing hits began to add up, I landed at least five solid hits on the Japanese battlecruiser-turned-battleship. I'd set her afire between her two aft mounts, and was at least satisfied I had no doubt done far more damage than I'd taken.

No less than three of Kongo's own shells had struck me however. Two had punched through my upper decks and failed to penetrate my armoured deck. The other had overpenetrated through my superstructure.

I was bloodied, but still in the fight. Unlike at the Denmark Strait, I was familiar with my guns, and knew how to clear the common jams much quicker. My fairies had also been able to make some minor adjustments in the last few weeks, to reduce the likelihood of them occurring. Back then, I'd been roughly on par with my German opponent, but for my constant jams and issues which had put me at a severe disadvantage.

Now I knew how to work around them, and my opponent couldn't truly damage me beyond shooting my unarmoured upper decks and superstructure full of holes.

I'd just had one of my barrels jam, and loosed an eight gun broadside when another salvo fell short of me, but close enough to spray me with water. To my surprise, ten seconds later a second salvo straddled me, and another shell hammered through my upper decks and bounced off my armoured deck. I grunted in pain. I glanced down to see more than one bloodstain on my uniform.

But more importantly, "Looks like she got fed up wi' shooting at me evasive arse, huh?" Spoke Repulse.

I grimaced, "Yes. Now's the time to start hitting her Repulse."

"Wayyyyy ahead o' ye' Wales." She spoke, already straightening up and firing a salvo.

It took five salvos for the trailing Kongo to find my range. In that time, I landed another two hits on Kongo. Another shell struck my stern, detonating against the armoured deck plate that protected my steering gear, and starting a small fire.

Once both of them had my range, the hits began to accumulate far too quickly for my liking. I kept landing hits on Kongo, but shell after shell began to strike me. At this range the enemy shells were coming down at a twenty degree angle. Hence, most of them hit my armoured deck.

Three shells struck me in quick succession. Two struck my deck amidships, and one smashed through my boats and overpenetrated my super structure. A second later there was another flash of a hit on Kongo.

I've always had a love hate relationship with my all or nothing armour scheme. On one hand, I'm still alive, despite the incredible amount of hits I have taken during the war. On the other, unless a shell hit my external belt-Which felt like a strong punch and tended to bruise my human form-every other hit hurt. Even non penetrating hits on my deck plates would punch through several layers of unarmoured decks before striking it. A flesh wound. But anyone who has had such a wound knows, it still stings like hell.

With both of them pummeling me the trade became slightly skewed in their favor. Repulse was still finding the range. Another shell punched through my superstructure while another hit my deck.

I remember just having fired again when Hobart shouted, "PERTH!"

I glanced back to see flames on the Aussie's amidships, as she lost speed. "Perth! Report!" Barked Houston.

There was a cough, "Boiler room's hit. Down to fifteen knots. I can't keep up."

Silence for a second as Houston relayed. Then, "Get out of here Perth, you can't do any more good back there. Pillsbury, Pope, cover her."

It said a lot about how bad the damage was that the Aussie didn't scoff at the order. "Sorry girls. Good luck." And with that, she and the two destroyers fell out of line and disengaged.

I hadn't been paying much attention to the cruiser battle, focused as I was on my own duel. Now that I looked back, Exeter and Boise were both on fire, minor it may have been. All four of them had some obvious battle damage. However, I could also say the same of their opponents. One had her own fire, and the two others had obvious damage, and one had fallen out of formation and was limping away. An engine room hit, I mused.

Of course, just as I was thinking about battle damage, I received some more of my own. A salvo from Kongo splashed around me. One 14-inch shell struck the roof of my B turret, and flattened itself against the armour, cratering it. The detonation of the shell changed that, spalling my armour. Several of the gun crew fairies fell, and one piece of shrapnel struck a spark, which landed on a bag of propellant.

Bang!

"Agh, Fuck!" I cursed as I clutched my right arm. "Motherfucker!"

The resulting flashfire had set off the propellant being readied in the turret, killed the entire fairy gun crew, and damaged the open breeches of both guns. For once though, I was extremely grateful for the source of most of my jams: my incredible flash protection. Despite the turret explosion, my magazines were never in danger.

I groaned in pain, but bulled through it to fire another salvo. "B turret destroyed." I ground out.

"Any danger?" Asked Houston.

"Negative. One jammed gun. I have seven guns at the moment." I reported.

"Still think you can take her?"

I nodded even though she couldn't see it, "Aye. That was a lucky hit. Only real damaging hit so far."

"Alright. Just let me know if you need to disengage. The Dutch are making their attack on the transports. We can disengage any time."

"Understood." I acknowledged as I loosed another salvo.

I felt a burst of satisfaction as I spotted another flash as my salvo straddled Kongo. Only to grimace as my Y2-gun jammed. On the bright side my jammed gun in my A-turret was back up, leaving me on seven gun broadsides.

Another two minutes passed. I hit Kongo another two times, while the two of them each hit me once. One of those shells detonated on my seaplane hangar. I had just enough time to go, "Oh fuck," before the Avgas caught and my entire midships went up in flames. My damcon crews rushed to begin firefighting, but that blaze was bad. It was not a threat quite yet, but it hurt, and I needed to keep it under control.

I grit my teeth, willed the crew to work harder, and kept fighting.

Moments later, Express shouted, "Enemy DDs are coming in!"

I looked away from Kongo to see what she was talking about. Virtually the entire Japanese destroyer force had turned to close with us. "Y'all are up Brats!" Houston replayed the Admiral's orders, "DesDivTwo and DesDivFifty. Close with, and engage those DDs. Keep 'em off us!"

"Roger!" Responded Alden, the flag for five-seven.

Express was as eager to fight as ever, "Aye, aye! Let's go get 'em girls! Follow me!" I wished her luck. She was Captain Tennant's Flagship. I hoped she'd bring him home in one piece. Electra, Jupiter and Encounter fell in behind her hull as they sped off to engage their counterparts.

I kept fighting. Pain and adrenaline mixed together. I'd already been a bit tunnel visioned on Kongo before, but now the entire world felt like it consisted of the two of us. I idly noted my secondaries opening up on the enemy destroyers, and my smaller comrades exchanging fire with them, but it felt distant.

Another shell shattered a secondary mount. A second left another hole in my superstructure.

Kongo looked just as ragged, even from this distance. Her aft most Y turret seemed wrecked, and her entire stern aft of her X turret was ablaze. A second small fire burned in her superstructure. I watched as my next salvo straddled her, and two flashes appeared as shells hit her belt. There was a sudden plume of smoke from her stack, and she rapidly lost speed, already turning away.

"Got her!" I exclaimed.

"Well done lass! I go' the other one good too!" Repulse replied. I glanced over to see the other Kongo on fire and disengaging as well. The enemy destroyers also turned away, every one of them pumping out smoke to conceal their retreat.

"Ha! Run you nip bastards!" Hobart cheered, "That was a piece of piss!"

Houston took control as usual, "Alright, calm down y'a-"

Boise cut her off, "Torpedoes! Oh fuck fuckFUCK!"

I had already ceased fire and turned away as hard as I could when there was a muffled underwater detonation followed by a second a moment later. I looked back to see Boise being showered and beginning to list. The worry in Houston's voice was obvious. "Boise?"

The light cruiser was surprisingly calm, "Fucking hell. Two torps, major flooding. That's me done girls. Hey! One of you little shits get over here! Get my crew off!"

Before anyone could reply Electra's voice yelled, "Another spread! Goddamn-! MOVE GIRLS!"

The rest of us in the battle line had already turned full away. Since the torps were already past them when Boise had spotted them, the DDs had kept trying to shell the retreating enemy destroyers. Now they'd all turned away hard.

Nearly at the same time there were three muffled booms. Encounter, Whipple and Alden all yelled as japanese torpedoes caught them.

"Status report!" Barked Houston.

Boise was first to respond, "Major uncontrolled flooding. I'll be under in the next twenty minutes."

Alden sounded very pained. "Gah. I'm screwed. Torpedo nearly busted my keel. I got half an hour at best."

"I'm sunk too." Whipple groaned, "My bow's completely gone."

Encounter was last, "Major flooding. No power. I may be able to control it. 'Ave to tow me though."

I kept steaming away as Houston relayed more orders, "Okay. Everyone maintain course for five minutes, slow to eighteen knots. After we're sure there's no more torpedoes coming in we'll head back and help the others." We all acknowledged.

The next five minutes were silent. Another victory, but at what cost? I took stock of myself. My B-turret would need some dock, or rather, repair bath time. Nearly every unarmoured part of myself had some form of damage, shell holes, blast damage or splinter and shrapnel damage. In a mirror of the damage I'd done to Bismarck, I had four flooded compartments forward and was leaving an oil slick from one of my bow hits. The fire on my stern had been extinguished, while the Avgas fire amidships was still raging.

Looking down at my human form, I was bloodied. I could feel the heat of the fire raging on my rigging. My ring finger and pinkie on my left hand were bleeding stumps. My clothes were mostly intact, but bloodstained. I could feel crusty blood on my face, so I produced a small mirror to check. I couldn't help but grimace at the sight. My left eye was bloodied and nearly swollen shut, and a pir of cuts hidden in my hair bled down the right side of my face.

And it all bloody hurt!

"You good Wales?" Repulse asked, "That fire under control?"

I grimaced, "I'll live."

"If you say so. Let's go save the crews."

As we turned back to our stricken steel hulled comrades, I took a moment to look over the others. Repulse had a small trail of blood down her face, but otherwise had gotten off nearly scot free.

Houston's crew was just extinushing the last of the flames aboard her. Her B-turret was blackened and destroyed, and I could count at least ten hits across her hull.

Exeter was shot up badly as well. Her guns all seemed fine, but I could see a small burnt section on her superstructure. Her entire hull was covered in shell holes and splinter damage.

Hobart in contrast had gotten off surprisingly lightly. I could see a few holes, but compared to the other cruisers she seemed fine.

We came up on the four sinking allied ships a minute later. Boise was listing badly to port, no doubt flooding from the torpedoes. Edsall was already alongside taking off her crew.

Encounter was listing and down by the stern. Express had come alongside her sinking sister and was assisting with her own pumps.

Alden had already capsized, and the shipgirl was helping pull her crew from the water.

Whipple's bow was gone, and her bridge was awash already. She too was off her hull, and helping get her crew aboard one of her sisters.

Myself and Repulse began steaming around keeping watch for the Japanese. Luckily at this point they were just small puffs of smoke on the horizon.

---

We'd won. The Dutch cruisers had caught the transports with only four destroyers as escorts. They'd sunk two of the six transports, damaged two others, damaged two of the destroyers and driven them off. Unfortunately the Japanese torpedoes had taken their toll once more, and both Kortenaer, and Witte de With had been sunk. And with the two Kongos and the rest of the escort bearing down on them after disengaging from us, they'd had to run.

The two destroyers had escaped with them, having become SHIPs. But their crews had been left behind with their sinking hulls at the mercy of the Japanese. We'd managed to pull the majority of Boise, Encounter, Alden, and Whipple's crews from the water, before setting course back to Soerabaja.

We'd just gotten back underway when Houston had ordered all of us SHIPs back aboard her hull. I reached the scramble net just before Repulse. The moment I tried to grab on with my left hand, blinding pain shot up my arm. "Gah!"

"Wales?" Asked Repulse in concern.

I grimaced, "I think my left arm is broken."

"'Aight." She grabbed onto the scrabble net and dismissed her rigging, climbing a couple rungs up. "Up ye' come."

I sighed in annoyance. I always needed help. It seemed like I'd never be able to do anything on my own. I grabbed on with my right hand, ditched my rigging, and pulled myself up. A moment later I felt Repulse grab me under my left armpit and heaved me up. I climbed with my feet and grabbed on again a couple rungs higher. It took the two of us three minutes to reach the deck. As soon as we were clear, the others began climbing.

Houston was there with Admiral Hart to greet us. She didn't look so hot herself. Like me, several fingers were missing on her right hand, and she was battered a bit bloody. But she took one look at me before turning around and yelling, "Corpsman!" Then she was on me, gently guiding me over to sit against her structure. Repulse joined her. "You ok Wales?"

I gave the American a small nod, "For the most part. Only real damage was my B-turret, and my Directors." I gestured at my legs, "Propulsion is untouched, despite a few holes in my stack."

"And that?" She waved at my bloodsoaked and slightly torn jacket.

I gave a shrug and grimaced as it made my jacket rub over several of my wounds. "All the holes through my unarmoured bits."

Before she could reply one of her corpsmen showed up. He froze when he saw me. "Jesus." He muttered and began producing bandages.

---

I sat on a chair from my hold on Houston's stern, alone with my thoughts. Everything was draped in orange from the setting sun. I'd had to strip during my medbay visit so all my wounds could be bandaged. Now I wore my usual white tropical uniform, my left arm covered by a cast.

We'd won. Stopped another Japanese landing in its tracks. And yet it didn't feel like it. Boise, Alden, Whipple and Encounter's hulls were all at the bottom. So were Kortenaer, and Witte de With's. It felt like a draw, and we couldn't keep this up. One of us was going to get sunk for good at this rate.

I glanced over my shoulder when I heard footsteps, "Oh, hello Houston."

"Feeling better Wales?" She asked, coming to a stop beside my seat. "How's the arm?"

"Broken." I replied holding up my castbourn left arm to show her, "Though just the smaller bone, just above my wrist. I'll live. You?"

She held up her own bandaged right hand, "It hurt this much every time you get hit?"

I gave a sympathetic nod, "Yes, unfortunately."

She blew out a breath, "Well shit… I guess I better avoid getting hit in the future."

I let out an amused huff, "Yes, since that worked out so well for me."

"A girl can dream." She replied, and held out a clipboard, "Anyway, Admiral wants AARs from all of us." I blinked in confusion for a moment glancing between her and the clipboard, and slowly raised my broken left arm. "Oh." The texan muttered while stowing the papers, "Sorry, forgot you're a leftie Wales."

"Yes, I can't exactly write at the moment. I'll get one done once I can write again." I assured her.

"Well uhhh, you had dinner yet?" She asked.

"No. Shall we?" With a nod from her I stood up and we headed to dinner.

 

[LtRainbowSlash]

Chapter 20: Shipgirl Shenanigans

With her damage, Encounter's hull could only be towed at five knots. Unfortunately, between aircraft, submarines and more possible Japanese surface units, the Java sea was far too dangerous to risk it. So her crew was taken off, her hull scuttled by a pair of torpedoes from Electra, and Encounter joined us in what were jokingly coming to refer to as 'the SHIP club.' Of six of us who had arrived in Singapore just before the start of the war, only Express remained a steel hull. But we made it to port, safe and sound. But what was next? Well, to rip off one of my favorite Telly shows from the 2000s: I get called crazy, The E's do something really dumb, and Exeter learns something rather unexpected.

FEBRUARY 8 1942
0343 HOURS

I slowly woke from the best sleep I'd had in a very long time. My eyes fluttered open to see a darkened room. I blinked and wiped my eyes sitting up on the bed. I was still getting my bearings when a door to my left opened and the lights turned on. I blinked away the sudden brightness.

Once my eyes had adjusted I realized where I was very quickly. A hospital. I'd gone to sleep about five hours ago by my internal clocks, in a cot on Houston's stern. Normally a bad idea. But as a shipgirl I didn't have to worry about mosquitoes. Not having to worry about malaria was nice.

But how had I gotten into the hospital? I was a very heavy sleeper, perhaps they'd stretchered me over while I slept. But why the hospital? I should have been in the repair bath.

At the foot of my bed was a nurse. "I was informed you were waking up." She spoke in a pronounced dutch accent, "That's good. Unfortunately during the chaos of the last few hours we lost track of who brought you in. What's your name?"

I blinked at her in confusion, "Lieutenant Commander Gwendolyn Windsor. Why am I here miss? I should be back on base."

She gave me an equally confused look, "Do you have a headache? Any dizziness? You are badly injured."

My eyebrow raised, "Nooooo?"

She nodded and made a note on her clipboard, "Do you know how you were injured?"

I gave her a 'are you serious' look, "Thirty-Two 14-inch shells." She just looked at me in surprise. I gave a small grin, "You should see the other girl." I threw the covers off me to find myself clad in a hospital gown. "Now where's my uniform?"

The nurse sighed, "I'll go get it for you." And with that she left the room and shut the door.

I sighed in annoyance. What was going on here? A minute later she was back with a second nurse who was holding a needle. "What's that for?" I asked.

"Don't worry dear, it's for your own good." I glanced at the needle wearily. Instead of going for my arm as was more usual, the nurse went to spick it in my neck. I flinched, but sure enough there was a snap of the needle breaking against my skin.

I gave the very confused nurses a scathing look, "That was a sedative wasn't it? You think I'm crazy?"

"Ma'am, please." Stuttered the first nurse, "There is no such thing as female officers. Nor surviving a hit from such shells!"

I facepalmed, "Oh for- Messenger!"

The requested fairy popped up on my shoulder, much to the nurses' surprise. "Oi?"

"Go to my cabin and get me my other set of casual summer whites please."

"Oi oi!" She saluted and disappeared to carry out her task.

I turned back to the flabbergasted nurses, "It appears there's been a mixup ladies. I am the second of the KGV-class battleships, HMS Prince of Wales, or Lieutenant Commander Windsor. I am a shipspirit, and sitting in a hospital is not how I get repaired, so I will be heading back to the naval base now."

There was a small, "Oi oi oi, oi." As my messenger fairy appeared again, holding my uniform out.

"Thank you, dismissed." I said, taking the clothing which quickly grew to full size. I was about to start getting dressed when a jolt of pain shot up my castbound left arm. It seemed I still couldn't move my fingers. I sighed and turned to the nurses. "Could one of you help me get dressed?"

---

I ended up deciding to get a headstart on repairs and went to the repair baths, despite the early hour. Just after we'd arrived in Soerabaja, the dutch engineers had converted a small warehouse on base, clearing it out, tiling over the floor and digging down to make several hot tub-like repair baths. They'd even built several small changing rooms beside the entrance. Luckily we hadn't needed to use it until now. I'd gotten changed, sat down in one of the baths up to my neck, and fallen asleep.

I was awoken several hours later by several familiar voices. Morning rays of sun lit the room through windows mounted near the ceiling. My internal clock told me it was just after eight.

I glanced over at the changing room door as the voices got clearer. Boise was first to enter, clad in a white two piece typical of the 40's. Her seafoam hair up to keep it from getting wet. Trailing her were the rest of the SHIPs. Right behind her were Alden and Whipple. Repulse came next, with Jup, Electra, and Encounter joining her.

Boise was the first to spot me. "Oh, good morning Wales."

I gave them all a small wave, "Morning."

She turned back to Repulse, "So we just… Get in the bath?"

The battlecruiser nodded, "Aye. Ye' lasses donae need it necessarily, bu' even without damage it's like regular maintenance. Better te' have it done whenever ye' get th' chance. An hour should do ye' some good."

I zoned out for a moment as they all began to move to various baths, several of my own fairies maintenance reports taking my attention. I snapped out of it a few seconds later. "'Ow ye' feelin' lass?" Asked my scottish friend as she made her way over to me.

"Like I went toe to toe with a pair of Kongos." I quipped.

Repulse just chuckled as she lowered herself into the bath with me, the others spreading out amongst the others. "Seein' how much ye' can shrug off makes me wish I were a battleship at times."

I gave a good nurtured huff, "It's not that great. That whole battle hurt like hell." I glanced over at her as she began removing the bandage she'd been wearing around her head. "How is the head?"

The battlecruiser gently reached up to touch the scab on the right side of her head. "Fine. Th' shell went in one side o' me superstructure and out the other."

We fell into silence for a few moments before I let out a small laugh. At Repulse's questioning look I explained, "It all just sank in. That was a battle. God, we really went at it there. That'll end up in the history books for sure."

Repulse inclined her head in acknowledgement, "Aye. Only th' fourth capital vs capital fight o' th' war." She glanced at me, "And your second."

I blinked for a second, "I thought it was the third?" I began counting on my fingers, "Denmark Strait, sinking of Bismarck, Java Sea."

"Ye're forgetting Lofoten."

My brow furrowed as I dug through my memories, "When was that?"

"Off Norway." Repulse began to explain, "Sis got inte' a two hour gunfight wi' th' Scharn sisters in a heavy storm. As she tells it, most of the damage was done by the weather."

My brow rose, "Huh. I hadn't heard about that."

She shrugged, water falling from her shoulders, "Eh, no' much came o' it." She gave me a sideways grin, "But you've still been in two o' the four. No' bad lass."

I blew out a breath, "I'd rather I hadn't been."

Repulse looked like she was going to say something else when Houston's light texan twang drew our attention, "Mornin' y'all. Admirals are having a meeting to figure out what's happenin'. Don't suppose y'all who are damaged could get me damage reports and repair time estimates?"

Jupiter spoke up first, already laying some paperwork on the bathside "Two 5-inch hits, minor machinery damage and a knocked out set of torp tubes. I'll be good in three days."

Electra went next, mimicking the younger destroyer as she held out papers for Houston to take, "No damage."

She skipped Boise, Alden, Whipple and Encounter, since they hadn't been SHIPs until after the fight.

Repulse went next, "I only had a shell go through me superstructure. I'll be set before evenin'."

My own engineers had already written up a comprehensive damage report and repair estimate which I handed over. "Thirty-two 14-inch impacts. Forward director, number 3 secondary mount and B turret damaged and inoperable. Completely destroyed and burnt out aviation facilities. Minor below water line holes. And more holes and splinter damage in my unarmoured superstructure and upper decks than you can believe."

"Holy shit." The American muttered, looking over the report before I continued.

"I've prioritized any damage below the water line, repairs of my forward director, destroyed secondary and B-turret. I got lucky, the breaches of my B-turret guns are only lightly damaged, as are the internal mechanisms. I can be ninety-nine percent combat effective in a week, barring some minor upper deck bulkhead repairs. Another four days to repair my aviation facilities, and two weeks on top of that to repair all my damaged decks and superstructure."

Repulse let out an impressed whistle. "A month to fix all tha'. If ye' were still a steel hull ye'd be in a drydock fer four to six months."

"That's what you notice?" Boise spoke incredulously, "I'm more surprised she's still even fucking alive! Hell knows she's prolly the only one here who can take that many fucking shells! I'd be scrap!"

Houston gave her fellow american a chuckle, "We all would be. Even Repulse." She gave me a small smile, "But she's a battleship. Taking fire and not giving a shit is what they do."

I just huffed, "I very much give a shit. It hurts like hell."

"You're still here, that's what matters." The heavy cruiser replied, "I'll get these back to the brass." She made to leave but Repulse spoke up first.

"How're ye' steel lasses doing?"

Houston turned back, "Oh, us steel hulls?"

"Aye."

Houston seemed to mull that over for a second, trying to decide if that was confidential or not, before deciding to reply, "Perth left for her namesake port an hour ago, with Vampire and Tenados escorting her. Her second machinery room was totally destroyed, so she's outta the fight. Me and Exeter are shot up," She held up her bandaged right hand, "But I've still got six guns, and Exeter's full of holes but hasn't lost anything critically important. We're all we have for a month yet, so the two of us will probably be sticking around. Hobart was barely scratched, so she's fine. And the three dutch cruisers got away scot free. Other than that, Express had a single hit, so she's also good. And the rest of the fourstackers got away clean."

"So when Wales is set in a week, we'll be good to go again then, right?" Asked Boise.

Houston nodded, "If we have to. Here's hoping we don't, yeah?" There was general murmur of agreement. "I'll see y'all later." She said, and left the room.

---

FEBRUARY 9 1942
1424 HOURS

Normally when I have a section in this book written by someone else, I've gone and asked them specifically to write down their recollections. Electra, on the other hand, published her own memoir a year ago: E-class Destroyer. With her permission I've used the following excerpt.

After lunch, me and Encounter ended up under a tree near the headquarters building. The afternoon equatorial heat sapped all of our energy, so we often ended up napping away the afternoon. I was just starting to doze off when a yell brought me back fully awake.

"'Ey! 'Lectra! 'Counter!" I rubbed my eyes and sat up, greeted by the sight of Express walking over to us.

I stretched with a yawn, "Ahhh. 'Ello sis. What is it?"

My younger sister smiled excitedly. "We gotta' letter from 'ome!" She said, holding up the envelope in question.

Both myself and Encounter, who'd been playing beside me, lit up. "Well don't just stand there!" My other little sister, "Read it!"

After sitting down under the tree with us, express obliged her, ripping open the envelope and beginning to read: "Dear Electra, Express and Encounter. I 'ope the three of you are well. It feels like it's been years, yet you've only been gone four months. I know the Pacific War is probably going to be a 'ell of a lot 'otter than the fight over 'ere. The Nips 'ave a much better surface fleet than Jerry, so you girls will be in for it. Give 'em 'ell for me will you? Things are the usual 'ere. As I'm writing this, I'm with Edinburgh and Escapade heading into Scapa. They say 'ello. As for what we were doing, you remember last winter, when we were all complaining about the North Atlantic in winter? I take all of it back. The Barents is another kind of 'ell. Imagine this: sixty foot swells, a blowing gale, a snowstorm so thick you can't see more than five 'undred yards, and days of utter darkness until you come back south. The only thing that makes it bearable is being visible. Being able to talk with the crew, it's amazing. Anyway, I miss all of you. Don't do anything too dumb? Love you. Your big sis, Echo."

We sat in silence for a few seconds before I sighed, "Fuuuuck, I miss 'er."

That got a sad nod out of Express, "I miss 'em all."

Encounter spoke with a small voice, "She's also the eldest now."

That made us all pause, and share a moment of grief. We were no strangers to the feeling. We were a nine ship class. Eighteen if you counted our half sisters of the F-class. Of the nine of us, six of us still lived. Exmouth was our class lead, and our oldest sister. She'd been torpedoed by a U-Boat back in January 1940, leaving Echo to fill her shoes as big sis. Escort had been torpedoed in the Med by a Italian submarine last July. And a month later, Esk had been sunk by a mine. Most recently, our half-sister Fearless had also been sunk in the Med six months before..

None of us cried. We'd gotten that out of our systems when we'd all been told of our sisters' demises. But there would always be that sad prang, remembering their smiling faces in happier times.

"Anyway!" Express was more than happy to lighten the mood, "There was also a letter for Repulse." She said, holding it up, "I thought I'd bring it to 'er, considering 'ow busy she is 'elping out the Admirals with planning 'n' stuff."

I shrugged and stood up, "Sure." With a quick order I activated my radio, "Oi, Repulse. It's Electra. You got a sec?"

There was a pause. A moment later the radio spoke scottish, "Aye lass. Go fer it."

I triggered my radio again, "'Spress just got the mail, she's got a letter for ya'. We'll bring it. Where are ya'?"

"Jus' in the mess. I missed lunch so I'm grabbin' a bite. Lemme know when yer here."

"See you in a bit." I replied. I turned back to my sisters. "Got that?"

They nodded. "Let's go.'' said Encounter.

We started off back towards the main base facilities, Encounter and Express chatting about who the cutest officer was, of all things. We'd barely started walking when we passed one of the administration buildings. There was a small parking lot outside that we cut through.

"'Oly SHIT." The exclamation from Express brought me up short. I spun around to see her already walking over to one of the three cars in the lot.

Encounter and I exchanged an exasperated look. "Oh balls. 'Ere she goes again." My younger sister muttered.

The two of us made to join our middle sister from where she was excitedly circling the car. A fascination with cars was something she'd picked up from her first Captain. She was an utter nerd when it came to them. "What is it this time Express?" I asked as we came to stand beside the low, open topped convertible.

Her head shot up from where she was eagerly examining the car, "It's a 1936 BMW 328! This car is amazing! Just look at it!"

I had to admit, despite knowing almost nothing about cars, it was a nice looking car. Painted and off white, the sports car was low and looked fast. Of course, Express had kept talking, but most of the car jargon went over my head. Until: "-that gives it eighty 'orsepower."

I blinked, "Say that again?"

My sister gave me a funny look, but obliged me, "It's got a V6, that gives it eighty 'orsepower."

I glanced back at the car. "That's not bad for such a small machine." Compared to us it was paltry, but we weighed nearly two thousand tons and needed to overcome water resistance. I'd be surprised if the little land vehicle weighed even a single ton.

I was about to tell the others to get going again when Express gasped again. I glanced back to see her staring at the steering wheel. I followed her gaze to see a small keychain dangling from the ignition. I immediately knew what my younger sister was thinking. "Express, NO."

She just gave me a shit eating grin. "Express, yes!" Was her reply, already hopping into the driver's seat. There was a sutter and a roar as the car came to life.

"Fucks sake!" I exclaimed, both myself and Encounter scrambling into the car before Express hit the throttle.

Myself and Encounter had to cram into the passenger seat. I was quick to strap the seatbelt across both of us, as Express did her best race car driver impression. She rocketed around a corner. I could feel the backend trying to spin out, but Express showed surprising skill behind the wheel and we sped down the base roads. We blasted through an intersection, cutting off another car that blared it's horn.

The two of us held on as our crazy sister pulled a tight turn into a tighter alley and gunned it. The alley ended in a T-junction with a brick wall. As we approached, Express jammed the brakes to slow down for the turn. We began to slow only for there to be a CRUNCH, and the car stopped slowing. I sent a worried look at Express, only to see a horrified look on her face. "Brakes failed! Hang on!" She shouted.

---

The repair baths were mostly empty after the first day. All the others had their maintenance done, and Repulse's damage had been repaired relatively easily. Only myself and Jupiter remained. As usual the destroyer had wanted to watch more movies on my laptop, so that's how we spent most of our time. We'd just finished The Hobbit, when Jupiter yawned and stretched, letting herself sink up to her neck in the hottub like bath we were sharing.

"Whatchya think the E's are doing Wales?"

I glanced back at the young girl, "Probably napping. That's what they normally do in the afternoons, is it not?"

She nodded, "Yeah pro-"

She was interrupted by a huge CRUNCHSMASH as the far wall exploded into a cloud of plaster and flying bricks. We both reflexively flinched and turned away. It was best I did as a flying brick bounced off my defensively raised arm, instead of my head.

I winced and spun back just in time to see a certain brown haired destroyer smack into the tiled floor hard enough to tear up tiles and leave a small crater, bounce, and splash into one of the other repair baths.

There was a stunned silence, as we all took in the scene. The far wall had a hole just a bit bigger than the crumpled car that had created it. Through the swirling plaster dust I could see Encounter and Electra, looking stunned and utterly unimpressed respectively, in the passenger seat. Bricks were strewn everywhere.

The silence was finally broken by Express popping up with a splash from the bath she'd landed in. "I'm ok!"

I just sighed and rubbed my face in exasperation, "Bloody destroyers."

---

Repulse was there within twenty minutes. Jup and I were still in the bath, the E's had been rounded up and made to sit against one of the walls while the Battlecruiser spoke with the MPs that had been first to arrive. We just watched as she finished up and made her way over to the E's. We had front row seats to the ensuing show. "A-ten, Shun!" She bellowed. They scrambled to their feet and snapped-to. She strode up to them, giving all three E's an incredibly angry glare. Sure enough her self control snapped a few seconds later.

"You fuckin' Eejits! Are ye aff yer heid? How is it always you three fannybaws whenever some stupid shite has gone down?! D'ye no ken how fuckin dangerous that was?!" She shouted, accent even thicker than normal in her anger.

"But-!" Electra tried to start.

"SHUT YER PUSS! NO FUCKIN' BUTS FROM ANY OF YE! Because of ye' three little shites I've jus' spent th' last 15 minutes bein' hammered by th' Admirals fer not being able te' keep tabs on me own escorts! Apparently I was under th' incorrect assumption tha' now my escorts now had some control over their own form, they would actually fuckin' use it, an' nae go total De Ruyter's Captain's car, an' put a fuckin' crater an' hole in our only repair bath within 500 miles!!" The battlecruiser thundered. All three of the teens winced.

The Scot glared, daring them to speak. When none of the three did, she continued, "Well then. Good that ye' understand. All 'o' yer pay will go towards th' Captain until you've paid back the cost of th' car repairs, and yer confined to your rooms for two weeks, except fer meals, which you'll eat with me. Every time ye' try to leave without permission, I'll add a week. I'll be checking for ye' in yer' rooms in thirty minutes, so ye' better be there. Now ge' out of my sight!"

The three downcast destroyers returned her dismissing salute, and made their way out of the building. Jupiter leaned over to whisper to me, "Remind me never to piss off Repulse."

Repulse herself fumed silently for a minute, and then left without even acknowledging us.

---

FEBRUARY 14 1942
0852 HOURS

After the E-class incident, the Dutch engineers were quick to repair the repair bath. I spent the entire time in said baths, despite the looks I was drawing from the men. I needed to be operational. A few men admiring me in my swimsuit weren't going to stop me.

After a week my fairies happily reported I was combat ready, if still very full of holes above the waterline. My B-turret, secondary, director, and all my below waterline damage had been repaired.

I'd gotten up this morning, but instead of heading for the repair baths, I'd gotten into my dress whites. I didn't need the cast any more, and my eye had also healed. I still had a few scabs on my head, and a fair amount spread around my torso. Despite being scabbed over, I had to still bandage those on my torso, lest my clothes rub them off. A very human issue, I noted amusedly.

Once dressed, I headed for the main parade square. Already there and formed up were a good chunk of the RN personnel in Soerabaja. There was a three row block made up of Exeter's crew, a separate formation of Hobart's crew, and so on. Even the survivors from Encounter were standing in a formation. I could see the respective spirits in uniform and in formation with their own ship's companies. Specially notable was that Exeter was missing. Obviously there weren't the entire crews. There was no doubt a skeleton crew aboard the ships still.

I quickly spotted the smaller formation that held my fellow SHIPs. Repulse stood at the front as the 2iC, while Electra, Jupiter, and Encounter stood in a row behind her, the E's apparently given permission to attend by the battlecruiser, though Express was instead with her own company.

Being on the parade square, I drew myself up and marched over. Once I arrived I fell in on the right side, adopting 'at ease' like everyone else, feet shoulder width apart, and hands low behind my back.

We simply stood for several minutes, more crew trickling in and joining their respective crewmates. At the crack of nine, there was the sound of marching feet as several officers marched together onto the square, all done up to the nines. Among them were Captain Tennant and Exeter. A WO1 who stood at the very front shouted, "Parade! A-ten, Shun!" There was a resounding crash as we all snapped-to.

Each officer stopped before their commands, having a brief discussion with their 2iC. Captain Tennant was no exception, stopping before Repulse and smartly turning to face her. They exchanged salutes and I was just able to hear what they said since they talked a bit quietly. "Sir. The SNS is at your disposal, five members, including myself, present."

As was protocol he replied, "Very good Commander."

With another salute, Repulse executed a smart right turn, and marched around us to take her place behind the formation. Captain Tennant, now having command, spun back to the front, and drew his officer's sword.

I glanced over to see Exeter doing the same for her ship's company. It seemed she hadn't gotten a replacement CO yet.

Once all the officers had taken their position the WO1 ordered us to stand at ease, only to call us back to attention a minute later. I quickly spotted Admiral Spooner making his way up to the front. He quickly relieved his WO1. One the NCO was gone he drew himself up.

"Parade! Stand at, ease!" He surveyed us all for a moment. "Ladies and Gentlemen." He began, speaking loudly so that we could all hear him. "First of all, I would like to congratulate you all. We've turned back two landing forces, one of which we destroyed outright. Every one of you was a part of this. Naval combat is a team effort. It is by your ability to work together, your courage in the face of the enemy, and your excellence at your respective crafts that we have won these victories. You, the men, and women, of the former Singapore Squadron. As the Prime Minister said over a year ago, history will look back on us, and see this as our finest hour. Now I'm sure all of you would like to avoid baking in the sun, so I shall get to business. Able Seamans Stevens, Arthur, Bullock, Ramsey…"

The list went on, each called sailor snapping to attention and marching up to the front. There were about thirty of them who got promoted to Leading Seaman. And so it went for the next thirty minutes. Various sailors got called up for promotions and even a few Distinguished Service Medals.

I must admit to having zoned out, as I often did during the long periods on the parade ground that I'd endured in my last life, despite only being a reservist.

My nearly twenty minute long stint in my half aware state was shattered when the Admiral spoke again. "Lieutenant Elane Yorke!"

"Sir!" Exeter replied. I watched in surprise as she marched up to the front. They exchanged salutes and the admiral began reading from a piece of paper.

"On the 7th February, 1942, during the Battle of the Java Sea, Lieutenant Yorke was Performing her standard duty as Bridge Talker.

In the ensuing action the bridge of her vessel was hit, killing the Captain and much of the bridge crew. Simultaneously a second shell struck the aft steering position, wounding the ship's XO. The third officer, one of the survivors with Lieutenant Yorke on the bridge, suffered a stress related breakdown and became combat ineffective. Command then fell to Lieutenant Yorke. Hence, she calmly took command at a crucial moment and commanded the vessel skillfully through the following thirty minutes of fighting.

The capability to stay cool under fire and adaptability in the immediate face of the enemy shown by Lieutenant Yorke during this action were exemplary.

For her valor, Lieutenant Yorke has been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross." He gave me a smile and held out the box that contained the medal, "Congratulations Lieutenant."

However before she could go, he also handed over something else that I couldn't make out. With another salute, she was dismissed and began marching back to the formation.

"What was tha' he gave ye' E?" Repulse spoke over the radio, while avoiding actually speaking.

"We can do this!?" Exeter shot back doing the same, "That's useful." I could see a small grin appear on her face as she spoke the next line "I'm a Captain now. We don't have much in the way of extra officers around, and I apparently did a good job in the last week, so the Admiral has given me command of my own hull!"

I was about to join in the radioed congratulations when the Admiral called the next name.

"Lieutenant Commander Gwendolyn Windsor!"

Before I was fully aware my body had reacted on reflex, snapping to attention. "Sir!" I blinked for a second in surprise before falling out of formation and marching up to the front.

I arrived before the admiral and we traded salutes. I noted he had a small table that had been wheeled out at some point beside him. It was full of rank insignia, and a few medals. He was already holding a small piece of paper in one hand and began to read, loud enough that everyone could hear.

"On the 7th February, 1942, during the Battle of the Java Sea, Lieutenant Commander Windsor was assigned on the vanguard of the combined ABDA main battleline.

The enemy had a strong force of two battleships, four cruisers, and a large number of destroyers. Despite the enemy's strength, Lieutenant Commander Windsor was the first to open fire on the enemy.

In the ensuing action Lieutenant Commander Windsor became the target for both enemy battleships, coming under heavy fire. Over twenty minutes she was stuck by over thirty 14-inch shells, and sustained major fires and damage. Despite the pain and taking overwhelming fire, Lieutenant Commander Windsor did not once leave her position on the vanguard of the battleline, and continued to engage the enemy with accurate and effective fire, eventually forcing the enemy flagship to disengage.

The courage, endurance and utter contempt for danger in the immediate face of the enemy shown by Lieutenant Commander Windsor during this fierce and spirited action were supreme.

For her valor, Lieutenant Commander Windsor has been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross." He gave me a smile and held out the box that contained the medal, "Congratulations Lieutenant Commander Windsor."

"Thank you Sir." I said, taking with my left and shaking with my right.

Before I could be dismissed, he spoke again, quieter, "And here's something else for you."

My eyes widened. In his hand was a pair of Commander's epaulettes. We always joked about tea and medals, but I never actually expected to get one, let alone a promotion at the same time. "Thank you Sir."

"Do us proud Wales." He said with a nod, and then saluted me. I returned it and headed back into formation.

I keyed my radio as I marched, "You put me up for an award didn't you Repulse."

"'Course I did lass. Ye' fought like a lion, even when they both shot ye' full of holes. I know how much tha' hurt, and ye' didnae even waver. You deserve it."

I left it at that as I rejoined the formation.

The rest of the parade passed in a daze. Commander Gwendolyn Winsor, DSC. Yes, I quite liked the sound of that. I was still trying to process it all. I did manage to notice Repulse being made a Captain and Captain Tennant becoming Commodore Tannant.

Things were just coming to a close as my mind finished spinning in circles.

"-we have our duty, and we shall do it." The Admiral was saying, "Gook luck, and may-"

The scream of an air raid siren cut him off. Everyone looked around in surprise before our eyes landed back on Spooner looking for guidance. He looked back, "Right. Dismissed. To the shelters, off you go."

We were all too happy to oblige.

 

[LtRainbowSlash]

Chapter 21: The Battle of the Bali Strait

For the next week Japanese G3M and G4M bombers flying from Sumatra and Celebes pounded Soerabaja at least twice a day. The air raid sirens and the mad dash to the shelters became a routine. Houston and the other steel hulls ended up leaving their boilers lit the whole time, speeding out of the harbour into the strait between Madura and Java at the first sound of the siren to motor about in circles. By this point the Dutch air force was shattered, able to only offer token resistance. Of course, far worse was on the way.

FEBRUARY 22 1942
1130 HOURS

I sighed as my internal clock struck 11:30, and began to get up. That covered my morning hours in the repair bath. Time for lunch. I eased myself up from the bath, and headed for the changing room. I didn't even bother changing out of my bikini, since I'd just be back in the bath after I ate, instead just making sure to dry both it and myself thoroughly before throwing on my whites overtop and heading towards the mess.

It was a cloudy day, threatening to rain. I'd have almost welcomed it. Even as I walked at a sedate pace I was sweating horribly. Have I ever mentioned how much I hate the tropics? I was nearing the mess when my radio squawked. "All spirits, this is Houston. All steel hulls, tell your Captains to make ready for sea. All S-H-I-Ps, meet in the HQ briefing room ASAP."

I groaned, pulled an about face, and headed for the main Admin building.

When I arrived in the main briefing room I found the two Dutch destroyers already there and seated, while Houston sat looking over some papers at the front. I quickly found a seat and settled in to wait. Over the next few minutes the others trickled in. Boise sat near the front, and Whipple and Alden joined her. Encounter, Electra and Jup took a seat with the Dutch destroyers. Last was of course Repulse, who was quick to take the seat to my right.

Houston looked up, "Everyone here?" There was a general murmur of agreement, "Good. We'll be sailing in two hours." She made to point at the map on the wall behind her, "We'll be departing through the north channel and heading west along the Java coast. We'll then head through the Sunda Strait and out into the Indian Ocean, before looping around Japanese air cover and heading to Columbo. All of you will be in the formation during daylight. I know y'all don't want to hear this, but the Admirals plan on using all of you as bait."

She quickly continued before any of us could interrupt. "I know, it seems bad. But all of you can be repaired far more easily than us steel hulls, and if y'all get damaged you can just get aboard one of us and we won't need to slow down the formation. If we come under air attack, you will need to try and draw the enemy fire. During daylight we'll have the same formation as usual."

Express' hand rose. "You wanna know why we're leaving?" Houston asked her. The destroyer nodded. "Well," The American continued, "Twenty-four hours ago one of our subs reported two carriers heading southwest, just out of Palau. An hour ago another sub spotted them just south of Davao and heading for the Makassar Strait." She gestured to the map, "But she was able to confirm four enemy carriers."

Muffled curses went through the room. "Oh shite." I heard Repulse mutter under her breath, even as a 'Bloody hell.' escaped my own lips.

Houston bit her lip and gave us all a serious look. "The Butchers of Pearl are on their way, and we don't have any air cover. All we can do is run. At night you'll all be aboard to avoid sub attacks. Boise, Repulse, Wales, Jupiter and the two E's will be aboard Exeter. Whipple and Alden, you're on Pope. Witte and Kort, you're on Ruyter. Go get whatever you need to on base done, and be aboard within the next hour and a half. Dismissed."

---

FEBRUARY 23 1942
0548 HOURS

I blinked slowly, as I began to wake. I was greeted by a white steel wall as I lay in my borrowed rack. I wiped my eyes and rolled over, careful not to bang my head on the bunk above mine. Across the small gap I could see Repulse still asleep in her own rack. I normally preferred to sleep in just my underwear, but in such a public space I'd opted for a cream nightgown I'd picked up back in Singapore. Repulse was in much the same, but in her typical blue.

I yawned and stretched, climbing out into the small aisle between the bunks. Exeter, like most warships, didn't exactly have much free space. The five of us had been given a small section of bunks, in a larger dorm like room meant for junior officers. It was essentially a small hallway with small forks on the left that housed the bunks. There were somewhere around twenty racks, stacked in threes. We had a set of six, with a jury rigged curtain covering the entrance since 'as ladies' we 'needed some privacy from the opposite sex.'

I clambered down, making sure not to wake the J-class destroyer and Brooklyn-class cruiser sleeping in the bunks below mine. Encounter and Electra were in the bunks opposite, below Repulse. I quickly and silently got changed into my whites. I was just turning back to leave when I noticed a blue pair of eyes looking at me.

"Mornin'." Whispered Repulse, "See you in the mess?"

I just gave her a nod and departed. It would be a bit cramped trying to change with two people in between the bunks. I got my food in the mess and sat down. I was most of the way through my breakfast when Repulse joined me, also in her whites.

"Mornin' lass."

"And a good morning to you." I replied. "Sleep well?"

She gave me a mock annoyed look, "No thanks te' yer snoring, yes."

My brow furrowed, "I don't snore."

She looked at me with one eyebrow raised, "Trust me lass, I'd bet ye' snore louder than yer' turbines goin' full tilt."

I grimaced, "That bad?"

Repulse just gave a long suffering nod, focusing on food. A few minutes later we'd both finished and put our dishes back. "'Aight, Commander Windsor?"

I raised my eyebrow at her suddenly formal tone. "You're about to order me to do something so you don't have to, Captain McKay?" I asked with a sigh. Her amused look told me all I needed to know. "What is it?"

"Nothin' so bad." She replied, "Jus' head te' th' bridge an' get all th' meteorological data and situation report." She glanced down at her watch, "We got twenty before we need te' deploy, I'll see ye' on th' boatdeck at oh-six-thirty."

All things considered, not the worst thing she could have asked me to do. I thought. "Very good Ma'am." I replied tongue in cheek, and walked off before she could be miffed at me for calling her 'ma'am'.

It only took a couple minutes to reach the superstructure. I'd spent enough time aboard our resident heavy cruiser to know my way around reasonably well now. I passed various crew in the passageways as they went about their duties. More than one pair of eyes followed me as I made my way through the passages. I was just about to start climbing the last ladder to the bridge deck when a female voice drew my attention.

"Good morning Wales."

I glanced back to see Exeter walking up behind me. She too was in whites, but her Captain's rank was what immediately drew my eyes.

"Good morning Captain." I smiled. It was still incredible to think one of us had command of her steel hull. "Headed up to check the status of your command?" I asked, though I knew perfectly well as a hullbound spirit she wouldn't actually need to be on the bridge to do so.

She shook her head in amusement, "Something like that." She gestured to the ladder, "After you."

I nodded my thanks and went up. A short passageway later we stepped onto her bridge. "Captain on deck!" Someone shouted.

"As you were." Exeter spoke.

A moment later the current watch officer walked over and saluted, "Good morning Ma'am. Relatively quiet night, though Express went after a possible Jap sub. They're claiming a possible kill. Other than that, all is well. We're still in formation, we should be passing Batavia in two hours."

She gave him a nod, "Thank you Mr. Dunnison. Carry on."

He dipped his head, "Aye Ma'am."

She glanced at me, and opened her mouth to speak, likely to ask what I was here for. But she read my intentions easily enough and a moment later she turned back, "Also, Mr. Dunnson," The young lieutenant turned back to her, "I believe Commander Windsor here is after a meteorological and situation report, if you would."

He gave a nod, "Right away ma'am."

"Thanks Exe." I spoke, quiet enough for only her to hear.

"No problem Wales." She gave me a sidelong grin. "'Sides, I know you're only up here 'cause Repulse is being a lazy git and used her new rank put you up to it." She chuckled.

"How long have you two known each other?" I asked.

She thought for a moment. "My entire commissioned life. She was the first one I met when I pulled into Scapa. She's an easy person to get along with. She comes across as a rough and tumble Scot, she's probably the most sociable person I've ever met."

"Sounds about right." I replied, before the young LT made his reappearance.

"Here you are Commander." He said, holding out the requested papers to me.

"Thank you Mr. Dunnison." I spoke as I took the offered papers. I took a quick look through to make sure it was all in order. "Good. I'll be off then. See you tonight Exeter."

---

0640 HOURS

Once more I found myself leading our column as we sailed away from the rising sun. It had just cleared the horizon as we sailed west. Off to our left was the distant Java coast. As usual the morning heat was beginning to climb. Luckily for me, my rigging made me much more temperature resistant, and so for once I wasn't complaining about being cooked.

The sky was mostly clear, the wind and sea nearly dead calm. And in typical Java Sea fashion, there were the squalls. There were at least four within sight, and two more cloud formations of the like just on the horizon. One of the squalls was right on my starboard bow, sweeping past Batavia, or as I knew it uptime, Jakarta.

We were under radio silence, as usual. I'd been in formation for a mere five minutes when a blinking light from Houston ordered Repulse to launch two of her Walruses.

I'd have joined her, but my own aviation facilities hadn't been fully repaired yet. Neither had most of my upper decks. My FCS, weapons, and maneuvering were fully intact, and I could fight if I needed to. But I was still quite full of holes in my upper decks and superstructure, and had more than a few bruises and bandages hidden under my red jacket and rigging.

Five minutes later as Repulse's seaplane climbed away, Houston came over the radio. "Aircraft 3-4-0. He's seen us."

I glanced in that direction. Sure enough a tiny distant seaplane circled high above, well outside of our AA range. My brow furrowed. "Damnit." I should have picked it up on my radar well before it got anywhere near us. Of course the damn piece of tech was being temperamental again. In frustration, I jabbed back with my right arm, my elbow lightly banging the spinning antenna on my rigging.

My radar picked up the contact on its next revolution. I blinked in surprise, "Wait that worked?" An amused smile crossed my face, "Heh."

Said smile immediately vanished as my surface radar completed it's next revolution. "Oh bloody-!" I rang my action stations alarm as I keyed my radio, "Surface contact, at least eight. Two-seven-eight, Twenty-four thousand yards. Got them on radar, behind that squall."

"Ahhhh… Right." Houston seemed uncertain, probably because the Admiral wasn't on the Flag Bridge if I had to guess. "Repulse, get your aircraft over there and see what you can. Everyone else, standby possible surface action and maneuvering."

The next few minutes were tense. The moment my fairy gun crews were able, I traversed my two forward turrets and began loading AP. I could see both the destroyers in front of me and everyone else behind doing the same. One of Repulse's two launched aircraft swung around the squall, far too slowly for my liking.

It took three minutes for the aircraft to get into a position to see the other side. When it did, the old battlecruiser cursed. "Oh fuck me! I can see eight cruisers, and a' least tha' many destroyers. I can see more in the squall, cannae tell what they are. They're comin' right at us. A second force, looks like a convoy behind 'em on th' horizon, heading fer Batavia."

"Standby." Houston replied. There was the usual delay that told me she was talking with Admiral Hart. Then, "All ships, synchronized standard about turn to starboard on my mark… Mark."

As she spoke we all turned right at the same time, beginning a turn that would invert our formation and take us back on a reciprocal course. I swung my guns around, tracking the squall and radar contacts.

A moment later the first enemy ships came charging out of the squall's driving rain. Three destroyers, and "Jesus fucking christ!" yelled Boise. "Thats a fucking battleship!"

"Two of the wankers!" Jutted in Hobart.

Sure enough the two large battleships lead the enemy line, covered by half a dozen destroyers. Behind them came four heavy cruisers.

"Here we go again." Muttered Repulse. I grimaced, this was going to be a much fairer fight than the last one. If I got just a little bit of luck, I could take them both, or at least fight them to a draw, but luck was a very fickle thing. I set my directors on the lead ship.

"What do you think?" I asked as we kept turning, "Kongos?"

"Lemme ge' a good look with the Walrus." Replied Repulse, already bringing the aircraft back around to the front of the squall.

"Uhhh, guys?" Jupiter spoke up, "There's more of them!"

"Fuckin' 'ell!" Cursed Electra, "Four Battleships! They're real fuckin' done with us stonewallin' 'em huh?"

Two more shapes had emerged just to the right of the main enemy battleline. I squinted as I tried to ID them. "Looks like Fusos? Prolly out of line 'cause they cannae keep up with the other two." Spoke Repulse.

"Or Ises. One or the other." Replied Houston.

"Aye." Affirmed the Scot. I noted her plane had come around the squall, "There we go. That other pair are Nagatos. Those aft turrets are too close together to be Kongos."

By that point my guns were on target and I had a decent solution. "Permission to open up?" I asked.

The reply from Houston was quick, "Granted. All ships, weapons free."

I was halfway through the turn, dead broadside, so I made the most of my opportunity.

BANG

I opened up at just over eighteen thousand yards. Moments later Repulse mimicked me, followed by all four enemy battleships.

"Four of them!?" Came Boise over the radio, "Nope, fuck that! We better be getting the FUCK out of here Houston!"

"Calm the hell down Boise." The Texan rebuked, "We're disengaging, this isn't a fight we can win. Once we straighten out, make twenty eight knots and make smoke. Exeter, Admiral Hart would like permission from Admiral Spooner to head for the Bali Strait. If we keep trying to go west it's suicide by jap battleship."

Things went silent after that. I could only assume they'd taken the conversation into a separate frequency.

We'd completed the turn now. Thanks to the maneuver, I was at the very back of the column, which was probably for the best as I was also still the closest to the enemy. I fired my second, and last slavo for the moment, kicked my engine to flank and dumped fuel oil into my funnel, pumping out a thick cloud of white oil vapor in my wake. The destroyers added to my smoke to make an impenetrable white cloud, blocking the enemy ships from sight.

A few seconds later the last enemy salvo splashed around us. Luckily none stuck home. There were a few moments of silence as our adrenaline slowly left us, now that we were somewhat safe.

Electra was the one to break the silence. "Fuuuuuuuuck me. What the fuck do we do now?"

Houston had seemingly finished her private conversation with Exeter. "Well, y'all at the back keep making smoke until we open the range. We'll heading for the Bali Strait. If we're gonna make it before the carriers get in range we'll need to haul ass. Y'all ok to run at this speed for thirty-six hours? Biggest to smallest please."

I took that as my cue, "I can manage. I should have the fuel to make Perth too, if we slow down once we're clear of the Indies. My legs are going to be bloody sore but I'll live."

"Aye. Me as well." Said Repulse.

Next biggest, other than Houston, was Exeter, "I can make it."

"I'll be good too." Replied Boise.

De Ruyter spoke next, and I could hear worry in her normally bubbly dutch accent. "I… May have some fuel problems. I'm already at about 78% load. I'll be dry in two days at this speed. Java and Tromp are even worse off."

There was a sigh from Houston, "And all you DDs are also going to run low, aren't you?" There was a chorus of affirmative answers from the small ships.

Electra spoke next, "Well, us S-H-I-Ps can at least 'op aboard you steel 'ulls, so that's me, Jup, Alden, Whipple and 'Counter sorted."

"But what about us?" Asked Express.

"Repulse and I have refueling gear." I chimed in, "We can top you up. Especially if we save it by riding aboard."

"That works." Spoke Houston, "We'll be relatively safe once we get out of the indies and out to sea. Y' all can refuel out there."

---

1735 HOURS

That evening I was on Exeter's bow, watching The Matrix on my laptop with the destroyers. They still hadn't really figured out electronic computers, so most of the movie didn't make much sense to them. Exeter and Repulse were chatting nearby.

We were about halfway through the film when Exeter drew our attention with a groan and got to her feet. "What is it now?" Jupiter asked her.

With a sigh she replied by triggering her radio to the entire task force. When she spoke it came with the strange duality of hearing her with my ears and radio. "Airborne radar contacts. Zero-six-three, thirty miles. Fifteen plus."

"Shite!" Repulse cursed as she shot to her feet, "Hit the water lasses! Time to play bait!"

I stowed my computer and quickly followed her to the port rail. I was about to start working my way aft to where the scramble nets were still hung, when Electra ran past me and jumped overboard with a whoop. I glanced over the side just in time to summon her rigging and hit the water, her sudden extra weight creating a huge splash. Both Encounter and Jup were quick to follow her.

Repulse gave me a smile, "Over th' top lass!" And jumped.

I was left standing shaking my head amusedly, "My friends are all lunatics." And with that I followed.

It took a couple minutes to slot in my previous spot at the back of the formation. I'd already sounded action stations, and my Secondary and AA crewfairies were getting ready to fire their guns.

I was much better ready to resist air attack now than I had been back in Singapore. I had a full load of tropical spec shells designed not to degrade in the equatorial humidity and heat. My AA crews were more experienced too, as was I.

Still, I couldn't help but feel a prang of fear. This was how I had sunk after all.

My radar was down again, leaving me with the mark 1 eyeball. Exeter kept providing updates over the radio.

"Listen up!" Barked Houston as the enemy aircraft continued to close, "All line ships, by the numbers!" She spoke, using a modified drill square command.

"One!" Started De Ruyter, at the front.

"Two." Spoke Java.

"Three!" Tromp.

"Four." Hobart.

"Five." Boise.

"Six." Exeter.

"Seven." Houston counted herself.

"Eight!" Spoke Repulse.

"Nine." I counted, last in line.

Houston was back instantly, "When I give the signal, even numbers turn port, odd turn starboard. That'll give us room to maneuver. After that you are free to evade as needed. DDs, go thousand yard spread now."

As per the relayed orders the DDs spread out to give us room to maneuver. Three minutes later, I spotted the bombers. Even with my optics they started out as small dots in the distance. Slowly they grew, and grew, approaching from ahead and to our left.

"Exeter, altitude?" Asked Houston.

There was a moment of silence as the heavy cruiser checked her radar, "Ten thousand."

That was incredibly useful information for our AA directors. I quickly input it, already bringing my 5.25s to bear. I had what I thought was a decent solution, so as the range read ten thousand yards I opened fire with my port secondaries, followed moments later by everyone else who had heavy AA, that being Houston, Exeter, Hobart and Tromp.

My secondary fairy crews went all out, hammering new shells into my gun breaches. Nine seconds later my second slavo left all eight of my port barrels.

I kept hammering away as the first salvos began to burst around what I now could tell were twin-engined bombers. "Bettys?" I radioed.

"Look like Nells to me." Boise replied, "See the twin tail?"

She was right. Two separate formations flying quite close to one another bored in through the bursting flak. I counted twelve bombers in each formation, all at ten thousand feet. They were going to try and level bomb us.

They were seven thousand yards away when Houston spoke again. "Evens port, odds starboard, break!"

I threw my rudder hard right as our formation scattered. I kept up fire from my portside secondaries. Being last in line, I kept turning past ninety degrees to make sure I was clear, and then turned hard back the other way. As they closed to within five thousand yards the booms of our heavier mounts were joined by the clatter of 40mm pom-poms and bofors. The bursts of flak around the bombers quickly joined by streams of tracer fire.

One of the G3Ms took a shell directly to the right wing root and tumbled from the sky. Another fell out of formation a moment later trailing black smoke, but continued its attack.

Little black dots detached themselves from the planes, and the formation broke away. But not before a second bomber went down in flames. I reversed my rudder again, jinking and hoping the falling bombs were not aimed at me.

They weren't.

The first formation's bomb pattern fell long of the wildly evading Repulse, throwing up huge gouts of water as they went off.

Moments later the second pattern arrived. I tracked the bombs with my eyes. They fell as a large group, thanks to the bombers all releasing at once. And if the smaller clusters were any indication, each bomber had carried four. Moments later they struck.

Houston let out a pained yell as two bombs struck her amidships, throwing up inky black smoke as a fire started to burn.

"Houston!" Boise was the first to yell at her friend, "Please tell me you're okay!?"

There was a moment of silence, only broken by the continual banging of our guns as they tried to take more bombers. I idly noted two more smoking from damage as they turned away.

Finally: "I'll live. Y'all can stop worrying." Houston spoke, though I could hear the pain in her voice. "Any more coming Exe?"

"Negative. Just these ones." The devon replied.

"Alright. Form back up. Let's get going."

We all came back around. The steel hulls formed back up into line ahead, and us SHIPs headed over to Exeter. I'd just clambered over the side when Houston spoke again. "Make twenty-six knots. Those bombs got one of my boilers. That's the best speed I can make."

"Bollocks." Exeter cursed, "If those battleships are still after us…"

"When would they catch us?" Houston asked.

"Wait one."

We all went our own ways once aboard. I began climbing up to the bridge. Once I arrived I found the current captain leaning over her charts doing some math. She glanced at me as I entered. "Wales."

"Exeter." I joined her at the chart, "Can I help?"

"Sure." I joined her, and we quickly did the math, drawing our future course on the chart. Finally we reached a conclusion. "Fuck."

I bit my lip. "Not how I would have put it, but yes."

Exeter spoke next with the duality of her over the radio. "Houston, Exeter."

"What have we got?"

"If they're still after us. They'll catch up sixty miles out from the Bali Strait."

"You get all that Wales? Repulse?"

"Yes."

"Aye."

"You two will need to be ready to go. You're the only ones who can go toe to toe with those two."

---

FEBRUARY 24 1942
0522 HOURS

We were up bright and early the next morning. We were just southeast of the island of Madura, heading south and making our run for the Bali Strait. Myself and Repulse had soon slipped into the back of the formation, eyes peeled as dawn began to break. We'd just gotten back into position when Repulse hit her radio. "Yer radar on lass?"

"Just a moment," I replied, "Just having a couple issues." A few moments passed before the faint 'oi's of my fairies assured me it was working. It took another few seconds for the device to begin sweeping. "There we go. Contact, three-three-zero, twenty-four thousand yards."

"Guess them giving up was too much to hope for huh?" Spoke Houston. "Keep 'em off us you two. Wales, Electra, Encounter and Jupiter, you're under Repulse's command. You've got freedom to maneuver Repulse. Do what you need to."

"Freedom o' maneuver, aye. We'll do what we can. Fer now, stick te' me like glue lasses. Be ready to open up Wales."

I gave a small nod, even though it would go unseen, "Understood."

"DesDiv2, got it!" Jupiter affirmed, seeing as she was the highest ranking of the three destroyergirls.

I brought around my Y-turret, already loading AP shells and propellant. I couldn't see anything in the morning darkness, but first light was already beginning. It wouldn't be long before I could get my directors to work.

It took twenty minutes, and the first hint of sunrise for me to spot the distant enemy. Nothing more than some small dark shapes in the distance. With them to the north, and us to the south, neither fleet had the benefit or detriment of the rising sun. In the meantime, they'd closed to about twenty three thousand yards. I quickly set my admiralty fire control system to work.

"You see them, Repulse?"

"Aye. Fire at will."

I blew out a breath as I felt my adrenaline begin to come up. Deep breath in. And out. In. Out. A couple extra seconds to let my solution firm up. I took one last breath to steady my speeding heart. "Wales, engaging."

BANG

If they hadn't seen us before, they sure had now. My gun crews went to work at a slower pace. I had to wait for my splashes after all. Forty seconds later, waterspouts erupted well short. I fired again, and Repulse's 15-inch Y-turret joined in a moment later.

Confirmation that they'd seen us came while our shells were still airborne. First the lead battleship was lit by a flash, followed by her sister, who had pulled into port echelon to clear her line of fire.

For a battle, the next ten minutes were rather dull. A Second World War FCS was, by the standards of electronic computers, primitive and limited. In essence my admiralty fire control table was just a complicated ballistics calculator. Finding a solution on a target was a matter of inputting half a dozen different parameters. It was built into my systems to automatically read my speed and course. From there, wind speed was needed as well as the target's course, speed, relative bearing, and range. If even one of those numbers was wrong, the solution was bad, and my shells would miss.

From that miss, I could assume which one was wrong, and attempt to correct. Acquiring the enemy's course, speed and bearing were all easy enough. Just a matter of spending a few minutes at the chart table, and some math. Of course, the usual culprit was the range. My rangefinders were good, but a far cry from the radar integration I would receive later in the war. I could use the radar to assist my gunnery, but without it being integrated into my FCS I was limited to passing info from the radar operators to the FCS crew and having the fairies manually input it. But half the time my radar wasn't working properly, either not giving me an accurate range or not working at all.

With course and speed from both ships, my table could then accurately track our relative positions and spit out the bearing and elevation for my guns.

In the early morning gloom, my rangefinders simply couldn't get a good read. And salvo after salvo fell long or short. Luckily everyone else had the same problem. It'd nearly been ten minutes of firing, and no one had scored a hit yet.

I'd just fired another three rounds from my aft turret (Typically, one of my guns had jammed) when my radar pinged a new contact. "What?"

I glanced due port, off to the west where I'd picked up the contact. I could just make out two small smudges on the horizon, silhouetted by the rising sun as it just began to edge over the horizon. But at the range my radar was indicating they were at, only something big would even be visible, even with the sun. "Oh no." I muttered, and hit my radio. "New contacts, bearing zero-eight-five, thirty-two thousand yards, closing relatively fast."

"Fuck." Went Repulse.

Houston acknowledged a moment later. "Understood. Do what you need to girls."

"We goin' into that squall Houston?" The Scot asked. I glanced back forward to see a wide squall line dead ahead, and stretching southwest across the strait. With five hundred yards between each ship in our line, De Ruyter, who was in the lead was nearly four thousand yards, or two nautical miles, ahead, and just entering the squall. Just looking at it though, I could tell the wind was blowing it south. All the better for us. I hadn't even noticed, with how focused I was on our pursuers.

"Yup. It's in the way and should buy us some time." Was the reply.

I glanced at Repulse's five hundred yard distant form where she sailed ahead of me. I could easily make out her human form through her 'projection', thanks to my rigging boosting my eyesight. I could see her bite her lip, a plan forming in her head. "We need te' know what those are. I'll pu' a Walrus up."

I let rip another salvo, even as another four enemy shells splashed in between me and the Scot. This remained that way for another four minutes as we sped towards the squall at a steady twenty six knots. One by one the ships ahead slipped out of sight into the driving rain. Typically, I'd just finally found the range and straddled the lead Nagato as the sun rose and visibility increased, when I entered the squall and had to cease fire.

It was pouring. A deluge of water that left me soaked to the bone within moments. I could just barely keep my eye on Repulse through the driving rain, the three destroyergirls hot on my heels in their screening formation.

Repulse was soon on the radio again, "'Aight. Time te' stall. Jup, ye' got a good fix on 'em with yer FCS?"

"Uh, yes? I mean they'll need to stay in a straight line, but yes. Why?" The destroyer replied.

"Keep tha' solution on 'em, and start loitering just on the other side o' the squall once we're out. When they're ten thousand out, make a torp run and then run like hell to join up with Exeter, Houston and the others. You got the lead Jup." The older battlecruiser ordered. It was a good idea. Input the speed, course, bearing and range into our FCS, and it would track the target for you, even if you lost sight of them. Mind, if they changed course or speed all of that went out the window, but it was unlikely the Japanese battlewagons would do so.

"You got it! Follow me 'Lectra, 'Counter!" The three destroyergirls broke formation, speeding up and passing me just as I emerged from the squall, then turning away and beginning to do circles just outside the squall line.

"What about us?" I asked the battlecruiser.

"Well, my Walrus is jus' over those other two. They're Kongos, no escort. How close do ye' think you'd need te' be te' put one out of the fight in a single slavo?"

I blinked. That was not what I'd expected her to ask. "Four, five thousand yards if I have surprise. Why?"

I could hear the predatory grin in her voice when she replied. "Well, we either sit here in formation an' let th' wankers take potshots, or we take your heavily armoured arse and do something really fucking stupid."

I just sighed, "This is going to end with me shot full of holes again, isn't it?"

"Don' worry lass. I've a cunning plan."

"Whatever you say Baldrick."

---

Ittōsuihei (Ordinary Seaman) Aito Sazuki was a lookout aboard Hiei During the Battle of the Bali Strait. He remembers:

We'd just refueled Kirishima and Hiei from our fleet oilers near Tarakan when the signals arrived from Vice Admiral Shimizu aboard Mutsu, informing us about the chase. The Carriers were still refueling so our two battleships were ordered to steam at full speed to try and cut the enemy off, and allow the Nagatos to engage. We had to leave the destroyers behind, as they would not have the fuel to keep up with our sprint. The cruisers too, as the carriers needed some surface escort.

For twenty four hours we steamed at thirty knots, angling to intercept them near the Bali Strait. As the light began to rise, Captain Yano sounded action stations, and I reported to my post near the bridge, binoculars in hand.

I'd been the first to spot the enemy ships on the eastern horizon in the early morning light. Large waterspouts appeared around them as the unseen Nagato and Mutsu took them under fire. Before we could close they'd disappeared into a squall.

Even so, we pursued. Once on the other side of the squall we'd be in range, and could join the battle. It took nearly a half hour to reach the squall. The rain was thunderous, soaking me even though the rain gear I wore over my uniform. I did my duty, despite my discomfort, scanning the driving rain for any sign of the enemy.

We were just coming up on the edge of the squall when I paused my scanning. I stared through my binoculars for several seconds at a slightly darker patch of rain. Was it actually darker though? I couldn't tell. It was so slight it could easily have been a trick of the eye. I'd been staring for a good ten seconds when the squall began to thin. The dark patch got darker.

I was about to call it in when the dark spot disappeared in a brilliant flash. I had six seconds to stare in surprise before there was the terrific crash of metal tearing, followed by a thump. I spun to look ahead as Kirishima staggered from what I would later learn was eight british 14-inch armour piercing shells. One of her aft turrets exploded, ripping apart the turret roof and twisting the barrels horribly. Black smoke belched from her stack, and she fell out of line, rapidly slowing and turning away, trying to get away and deeper into the cover of the squall. Luckily with her slowing, the squall's ten knot march south would cover her.

Moments later the boom of our attacker's guns reached us. I spun back to see her more clearly as we left the squall. I recognized the King George V-class instantly, from my time spent with our recognition manuals. There were several flashes as her secondaries began to fire.

There was a loud 'clunk' I felt in my feet as Hiei's huge gun turrets began their traverse. The secondaries were much faster, the air soon full of rapid gunfire as the crews fired as quickly as they could. I could already see it wouldn't be enough as the KGV's turrets adjusted to bear on us. Before long they would fire, and we'd be out of the fight like Kirishima.

Luckily for all of us aboard, Captain Nishida was many things. Careful with his men's lives, humble, cool under fire, and smart. This was not a fight we could win, not at this range and without the Nagato's.

Our ship listed over as we went hard to port, turning away, main battery still scrambling to get on target. That turn saved the ship. The British battleship's next salvo struck as we passed fifty degrees of turn. I saw, with my own eyes, three shells strike the now angled main belt and skip off into the sea. Another hammered into the stern, and the last two punched clean through the lower unarmoured superstructure.

Moments later, helped by the turn, our two aft turrets fired and I saw three shells strike the enemy warship, just before the squall swallowed us once more.

Had Captain Yano hesitated even a few seconds more, the ship would have been out of the fight, leaving the Nagatos to fight alone.

We ended up falling back, past the limping Kirishima. She was barely making twelve knots, and heading due north. Luckily most of the damage was above the waterline. She'd spend the next ten months being repaired.

After making sure we were not being pursued, we turned around. For us, the rest of the battle would be spent in formation behind the two Nagato's.

---

Greetings. When Gwendolyn asked me to write a small piece for her memoirs, I was more than happy to do so. Our relationship is built on our respect for one another as worthy opponents, and I must admit having a chance to read of our battles from her side is quite interesting. I hope my own account is much the same.

To those westerners who do not know I am Nozomi Nagato, though I usually just go by Nagato, the lead ship of my class, and sister to Mutsu Nagato.

I shall pick up where Gwendolyn left off.
The allied ships had disappeared into the squall thirty minutes before. With the squall moving south at ten knots, it took longer than expected to begin crossing it.

We were halfway there when three allied destroyers reappeared from the squall, at a mere ten thousand yards. All of us, Japanese and British opened fire, but within two minutes they'd withdrawn back through the squall.

Neither we nor the destroyers scored any hits. A quick course adjustment and their torpedoes went well wide. Things were going better and yet worse than expected.

I was brought out of my thoughts when my radio crackled. "How far will they be once we clear this?"

I was on my compass platform near Captain Yano, and glanced right at my sister, who's hull was sailing a thousand yards abreast to starboard. "Should be about twenty thousand yards Mutsu."

I glanced behind us. We were alone. The cruisers and destroyers had been sent back to refuel overnight, leaving us the two of us.

"And what if the destroyers are waiting for us?"

"Then we hope Vice Admiral Shimizu knows what he is doing." I replied.

No doubt my sister wished to continue talking, but before she could there was a shout of "Kirishima!!"

I was instantly alert, "Hiei?! What happened!?"

"I'm ok! I'm ok." Kirishima came on sounding shaky, "I'm… I'm… Oh god, oh no. No no no no no." She stopped talking, but we could still hear the third Kongo hyperventilating over the radio.

"Hiei." I intoned, trying to inject as much calm into my voice as I could. "What happened?"

There was silence for a few moments before she came on again, "Ooooooooooooo, that was way to close! Sorry Nags. That damned KGV came out of nowhere. Shit, my heart stopped for a moment there. She caught us at five thousand yards and put a slavo into Kirishima. I just barely avoided getting the same from her second salvo. We're safe back in the squall now. You ok big sis?"

Kirishima was still panting but beginning to calm down. "Yeah… yeah… oooooh that hurts. Auuugh."

I grit my teeth. How had that happened. "Damage report?"

The response was just as analytical as one would expect from the bookish battleship, "I'm out of the fight. I've only got four boilers still running. Both my aft turrets are destroyed, major fires but the squall is helping to douse them... B-by my calculations, I would estimate at least eight months in the dockyard."

I let out a sympathetic hiss. That had to really hurt, but I was at least comforted to know that even in the face of such pain she was as analytical as ever. "Ok. The Admiral is already ordering you two to pull back and form up on us. It'll just have to be the three of us."

We finally entered the squall as Mutsu spoke privately to me. "Defeat in detail. We left ourselves wide open for that one."

"Quite." I muttered and we fell into silence once more. It took a mere three minutes to sail south through the squall, as it was beginning to dissipate.

As we emerged I swept my gaze across our watery battlefield. The two British capitals were off in the distance to the southwest, already maneuvering to cross our T. Further away due south and just reaching the narrows of the Bali Strait were the cruisers and destroyers. I couldn't get a good look thanks to the smokescreen they were leaving.

There was a low whine of machinery as my guns began to traverse and elevate, coming around to aim at the KGV. Before my crew could fire, both enemy warship's guns flashed. A moment later there was the crash of my own guns, followed by Mutsu, who was still sailing abreast to my right.

Once more battle resumed. Shells hammered the sea around us, our own soon doing the same well short of the enemy. I'd just fired my second salvo when Vice Admiral Shimizu came climbing onto the compass platform from his flag bridge.

Captain Yano glanced at him as he entered, "Vice Admiral. What can I do for you?"

The Admiral took a moment to walk up beside the Captain and raise his binoculars, doing a very good job of playing the cool collected officer, despite the fact that I knew the man was utterly terrified. "Tell me Captain, what do you see? What is our enemy planning?"

My Captain seemed surprised at the question for a moment before he brought up his own binoculars and started to answer before my guns' thunder cut him off. A moment later he started speaking again. "That force of cruisers and destroyers are in no position to fight it seems, so they're trying to stall us with those two capitals. If I had to guess their goal seems to be to escape with as many ships intact as they can. They're hoping by crossing our T we are forced to cease our pursuit and fight."

They both lowered the binoculars and shared a glance. A ghost of a smile crossed the older Admiral's face. "We'll make an Admiral of you yet Yano. But, look how those two ships are maneuvering. I believe they are trying to act as bait. Fight it out, buy time for their comrades, and then lure us into their trap so they may escape as well."

My guns crashed again making Captain Yano pause before he replied, "What sort of trap?"

"I see two possibilities." The Admiral began, "Either they've laid a minefield across the narrows to stop us, or they've submarines lurking in ambush in the deeper water outside the southern end of the strait. Thoughts?"

My eyes widened. I hadn't considered those as possibilities. Such tactics were not very honorable, but I could not contest their effectiveness. Honor meant little if it resulted in your defeat and death.

My Captain gave a slow nod, "You make a good point sir. It's certainly possible. What they do next may confirm your suspicions."

The Admiral nodded, "Thank you Captain. A second opinion is always useful to ensure we aren't making mistakes."

"Sirs!" My bridge talker cut in, "Gunnery reports straddle on the lead ship. Enemy capitals have begun zig-zagging."

Every eye on the compass platform spun to look at the enemy. "Well," Started my Captain, "I believe you were right Admiral."

---

Neither I nor Repulse were taking any chances whatsoever in this fight. We'd both needed to be able to hit flank if we were going to escape at the end of this. The moment the first shells began straddling us, we began bobbing and weaving sending the next few salvos well off target. Our own accuracy suffered horribly as well. Very few of my shells landed anywhere near the Japanese battleships. A price we were willing to pay. Our objective was to buy time, not sink them.

Luckily that was much more feasible with one of the Kongos out of the fight. We'd used my radar to track them through the squall, and for once my set had worked perfectly. Repulse had hung back since she'd be screwed if the Kongos managed to hit her. I'd snuck up and managed to utterly maul one of them at four thousand yards with a single salvo. I'd nearly gotten her sister too, but some quick seamanship ensured I scored minimal damage.

Her two aft guns had hammered off a salvo before she disappeared back into the squall, three shells striking me. One had punched through my superstructure. One had penetrated my B-barbette, jamming my hoists. Luckily I hadn't any ammo in them at the time, and my flash protection did it's job. My fairies assured me they'd have the blockage clear and the hoist's chain repaired within twenty minutes.

The third left me with a nice clean 14-inch hole in my main belt, and had ripped several dozen pipes and other engine machinery to pieces. The only reason I was still at flank speed was thanks to my redundant engine design. My fairies had been able to reroute the steam and water through backup pipes, allowing me to keep at full power.

It hurt, but by now I was unfortunately getting accustomed to the pain of battle damage, and it was easier to ignore.

We kept going, weaving through shell splashes as the two enemy battleships shelled up with their fore turrets. The lightly damaged Kongo-class soon joined them, using her superior thirty knot speed to catch the twenty-seven knot Nagatos, and join their line abreast formation.

The next twenty minutes were a lot of shooting, but no hits as the two of us weaved about. Finally we got dead ahead of the Japanese and turned due east, crossing their T. But they continued charging even as the range closed just under eighteen thousand yards.

"'Aight. If th' Nips want a fight we'll give 'em one." Repulse muttered, "Straighten up an' let 'em have it!"

"Aye." I replied and straightened up, simultaneously firing my first well aimed shot.

The enemy found our range quickly. The second salvos after we'd straightened straddled us both. My own second salvo straddled the lead Nagato, and I spotted a flash of a hit. I had just a moment to cheer before the next enemy salvo came in.

I spotted the shell milliseconds before it struck my face.

---

When I awoke it was to the crack of gunfire, the sound of myself cutting through the waves, and a killer headache. Oh right I was in a battle.

"...Oh bloody hell!" I jolted to full awareness. I was in a battle! Reports from my fairies came flooding in. A shell had utterly destroyed my bridge and killed the entire bridge crew, knocking me completely unconscious. My fairies had somehow kept me sailing and fighting for forty minutes.

That's when I noticed the pain and the wet warm feeling of blood dripping down my face. More reports came in: Twenty-six more 14-inch and 16-inch hits. A and B-turrets out of action. No machinery hits. Major fires on the foredeck and amidships.

In a word, I was fucked.

I hurriedly glanced around. My XO fairy had done a good job of keeping me safe while I was out it seemed. Myself and Repulse were both in the narrows, though near opposite shores. I steamed east while she steamed west. She wasn't that far though, the strait being a mere nautical mile wide. Off to the south I couldn't see the cruisers and could only assume they'd escaped over the horizon. To the north was the three-ship Japanese battleline.

I needed to know what was happening so I hit the radio as more shells splashed around us. "Repulse?"

"Wales!? You're awake!" Her reply sounded relieved, "Good. Yer' lucky yer XO fairy's a competent little bastard."

"What happened?"

"A shell took yer bridge off. Yer XO an' fairies kept ye' standin', shootin' an' sailin'. Followed my orders too. After ye' got knocked out we ran fer th' narrows, bu' once we got close th' Nips backed off. They loitered about twenty-six thousand out fer half an hour. I held us here te' stall jus' a wee bit longer, bu' ten minutes ago they came at us again." She explained. That my fairies could even do that was quite a surprise. "Anyway, it's about time we leg it. Nips don't seem interested in rushing us too hard, and we're running out of… time. Oh shite."

I knew why she'd paused. My directors were gone, but somehow my radar was still functioning. Nearly a hundred airbourne contacts a mere six miles out. The enemy carriers were in range. "Come on! I JUST WOKE UP YOU NIP FUCKS!" I yelled. I groaned, both in frustration and pain. "I hope you have a way of getting us out of this one Repulse." I asked desperately.

"Aye, I do. Turn one-zero-zero an' go like hell!"

I was already sailing east. All I could see was the beach and jungle of the island of Bali. "And do what!? Run aground?!"

"Stop thinkin' like a ship an' start thinking like a shipgirl!" She yelled back as she came about hard and sped for the island.

My eyes widened in realization. Repulse was a genius. "Chief!"

My chief engineer soon popped up on my shoulder. "Oi Oi?"

"Give me everything." I ordered.

"Oi oioi oi oi oioi oi oioi, oi oi oi oioi oioi oi oi oi oi oi!" She replied, and disappeared back inside.

It would have to be enough. I sped forward, not far behind Repulse as more shells hurtled down around us. I kept returning fire while dumping smoke behind me. It took a mere minute to cross half the strait. I was only eight hundred yards from the beach when the first Kates and Vals swooped in.

Neither of us bothered evading and slowing our headlong rush for safety. My AA guns were hard at work, but my world slowly narrowed until it was just me and the beach. I was hurting, high on adrenaline, and utterly tunnel visioned.

I grunted as a bomb struck me, adding to the fire that burned amidships. Moments later a torpedo detonated against my torpedo bulge, but failing to do more than tear it open. Nonetheless, I lost a knot of speed. I kept going through the deluge of ordinance, three more bombs detonating on my upper decks.

I was so close to the beach when a blinding pain shot up my left leg. A torpedo had detonated against my rudder, jamming it and shearing off my starboard inner screw.

I kept going. Another bomb. More torpedo bombers swooped in, but I was so close to shore now their torps just buried themselves in the sand. Repulse hit the beach and began running for the jungle.

Then I was free. Rigging off, I scrambled out of the surf and sprinted up the beach. More bombs fell and shells from the still present battleships hammered the sand. One bomb landed close enough to throw me from my feet, and I felt bits of shrapnel scratching my skin as they pinged off. I tumbled to the ground, flying sand getting everywhere. It was an adrenaline fueled scramble back to my feet and I took off running again.

I hit the jungle and just kept running, trying to follow the trail Repulse had bulldozed through the underbrush. Another shell hurtled by and exploded filling the air with a storm of tree splinters that tore at me as I ran.

I ran and ran, following Repulse's trail. I don't know for how long. But it must've been five minutes later that I stumbled into a small clearing that held a panting battlecruiser. I felt my strength leave me, and tumbled to the ground to lay beside her.

We were alive.

---

"What?" Not the most eloquent way of putting it, but Mutsu had summed up what we were all thinking in a single word. "How… I… They just…! What?!"

"They vanished." I stated.

"Well yes, but how?! Where'd they go!?"

 

[LtRainbowSlash]

Chapter 22: Survival

In hindsight, we never really stood a chance in Singapore or the DEI. But we'd done our best, and fought our hardest. While we had lost, we'd sunk over ten loaded troopships, and a number of destroyers. Not only that, but we'd forced the Japanese Navy to commit no less than eight individual battleships, three of which Repulse and I had sent to the drydock, and four fleet carriers to dig us out. Forces they no doubt would have rather deployed elsewhere. Without more ships, or reliable air cover, it was incredible we managed what we did. Moreover we showed the usefulness and capabilities of ourselves, as SHIPs. Of course, it was not quite over. Myself and Repulse still had to survive, and escape the island of Bali.

FEBRUARY 24 1942
0802 HOURS

We both laid panting on the ground for a few moments as our adrenaline wore off. The aches and pains from a thirty six hour sprint, followed by a pitched battle making themselves known. It took about five minutes before I finally rolled over and pushed myself to my knees.

My gaze immediately landed on Wales, who was still laying on her back. She groaned and glanced at me. "How bad is it, Repulse?"

"Fucking christ, Wales." I winced, "You look like you went through a blender."

The blond hissed a pained breath, "Feels like I went through one too. Fucking… agh."

"Oi, easy. Stay still." I chastised her as she tried to sit up. "Doc!"

My chief medical officer/fairy popped up instantly. "Oi oi?"

"Check Wales over." I ordered, already setting her down beside my friend. "Let me know if it's safe to move her. Or if you need my help." She gave a couple 'oi's, giving me an affirmative. "Marines!"

Again a fairy popped up, this one in khakis and a helmet. I idly noted he was much larger than the other fairies. Nearly two feet tall. "Oi oi?"

"Take your marines and make a perimeter. Make sure no one's about."

"Oi!" He gave a little salute. A moment later my entire platoon of marines appeared and headed into the surrounding jungle.

I turned back to Wales. My CMO was poking a prodding at her, asking 'does this hurt' in oi-speak every few seconds. It took nearly five minutes for her to finish up. Finally she began to explain her diagnosis. A likely cracked rib, and a broken left arm and right leg.

"Fuck." Wales muttered.

"Aye. Hang in there lass." I said, pulling out several first aid kits. "I know some first aid, so I'll get you pached u- Ugh, Shite!" I cut myself off as pain ran up my left arm when I tried to grab one of the kits.

"Repulse!?"

I grit my teeth as I held my hand up. "Oh, for…" My three middle fingers were missing, no doubt analogous to my blown up aft turret. I winced at the blood and went for the kit again. "Not a big deal, lass. Just some missing fingers. Just surprised me." I took a minute to clean the wounds with alcohol and wrap my hand in gauze.

Once done I turned back to Wales, and pulled out a pair of splints from my medbay. "This'll sting a bit."

I quickly went to work, first cutting away her pants and sleeves over her broken arm and leg. I had to clean out what scrapes and open wounds were underneath, few in number they may have been. After bandaging those I fastened the splints overtop to keep the bones in place.

I'd just finished on her arm when one of my Marines came running back. "Oi! Oi oi oi oi oioi oioi."

I glanced back at him. "Really?" He nodded, "Show me. I'll be right back Wales." I stood up, and followed him into the jungle. Just as he said, five minutes walk away we came across the base of the cliff. A waterfall tumbled down the rockface, and the decently sized stream continued from the base down the incline towards the sea. Yes, this will do. I thought, and headed back with a new plan.

I returned to find Wales still laying down. "Find the river?" She grunted.

I nodded, "Aye. If we can get over there we can clean our wounds and all this blood off more easily. Here." I produced a crutch and began to help the battleship to her feet, "Use the crutch, I'll be on your other shoulder."

She nodded, "Okay." I took care to be gentle as I helped her to her feet. Under her right arm went the crutch, while I supported her with her broken left over my shoulders. What had taken me five minutes on my own took us fifteen, Wales letting out grunts and hisses of pain the whole way. We finally reached the stream, and I set Wales down on a rock beside the water.

I produced a knife. "'Aight, I'm going to need to cut your uniform off." Wales' only response was a small nod. I frowned at that, but got to work.

Soon we were both in our underwear sitting in the stream. I was using a cloth to clean all the dried blood and dirt off of Wales, and cleaning her wounds. She had dozens of small punctures all over her body, many of which still had the wood splinters or shrapnel that caused them inside. None of them were more than a few millimetres under the skin, but the fact that they'd had more force than a rifle bullet to punch through the outer layer her skin was worrying.

I hated it. Wales always ended up hurting worse than me. I understood why. She was capable of surviving hits that would send me to the bottom, so she always did her best to draw the enemy fire. That didn't mean I liked it. I hated seeing her hurt. She was like a daughter to me.

I was still picking shrapnel out of Wales' back when her entire body shuddered. I paused. She shuddered again. "Wales?" The next shudder was joined by a quiet sob. My heart sank. I sighed sadly and eased her into a hug as her sobs increased in volume. "Shhhhh, it's ok. We're alright. It'll all be ok."

"It's not fair." She sobbed. "It's just not f-fair. I wanna go ho-o-ome." I held her tighter as she cried. "Let me go back to my nice c-civvie life."

"Oh Wales." I sighed, "You really haven't dealt with any of this at all have you. Just bottled it all up."

She just whimpered and sobbed again. I held her as she cried, letting out months of bottled up emotion.

---

I bawled like a baby for a full ten minutes, just letting it all out as Repulse hugged me. Finally my sobs quieted and I regained some semblance of control over my emotions.

I sniffed and wiped my face with my uninjured right hand, "Sorry Repulse."

I felt her hug loosen, "Nae problem lass. Jus' please, talk te' me. Ye' cannae bottle this up."

"I…" was fine, I wanted to say, but I really wasn't. "It's just so much…. I'm stuck fighting this war, killing people. I'll never see my family ever again. All of this… It's just horrible. And everything bloody hurts."

The battlecruiser just sighed and went back to picking shrapnel out of my back. I gave a hiss of pain. She started, "I ken. But ye' cannae dwell on it lass. Be optimistic. We're lucky. We both died, twice. An' look at us. Still fightin' like hell. An' we coulda been bog standard humans after reincarnating. Instead we can take small arms fire, are stupid fucken' strong and carry more firepower tha' a small country. 'Sides. How long could ye' keep a ship goin'?"

I blinked. "Well… Victory is still around."

I heard her nod as she continued. "Aye. If I had te' guess lass, as long as we visit the repair bath for maintenance, we won't degrade."

My eyes shot wide. "Wait! Are you… No. No way. You can't… Are you saying as long as we don't get sunk we're functionally immortal!? Ow." I spoke as she pulled another splinter from my back.

"I think so."

"Holy shit." I muttered.

By then Repulse was done cleaning my wounds and helped me back to the rock beside the stream. After I dried off she began cleaning my wounds with alcohol and bandaging me up. My thoughts were still hung up on the fact that I was probably ageless.

"Thing is Wales, you have te'…" She paused as she bandaged my missing left fingers. And an amused grin split her face. "Actually, I have a song fer this."

A moment passed before a tinny guitar began to play from her tannoy. And then she started singing that song.

"Some things in life are bad, they can really make you mad, other things just make you swear and curse~
When you're chewing on life's gristle, Don't grumble, give a whistle, And this'll help things turn out for the best~!" My good right hand met my face, despite the amused grin I had.

She grinned wide at my exasperation and kept singing. "Always look on the bright side of life~
Always look on the light side of life~
If life seems jolly rotten, there's something you've forgotten, and that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing~!
When you're feeling in the dumps, don't be silly chaps. Just purse your lips and whistle, that's the key. Ayyy~!"

I couldn't help but chuckle at the normally serious battlecruiser as she sang such a silly song. Her cheer was infectious. I couldn't help but join her for the next chorus.

"Always look on the bright side of life.
Always look on the right side of life."

I couldn't remember the words of the next verse, but Repulse continued. "For life is quite absurd, and death's the final word, you must always face the curtain with a bow~
Forget about your sin, give the audience a grin. Enjoy it, it's your last chance anyhow~!"

I joined in again. "So always look on the bright side of death~!
Just before you draw your terminal breath~!"

Repulse looked me in the eyes, addressing the next verse straight to me, "Life's a piece of shit, when you look at it~
Life's a laugh and death's a joke, it's true~!
You'll see it's all a show, keep 'em laughin' as you go, just remember that the last laugh is on you~!
Annnnnnd, Always look on the bright side of life~
Always look on the right side of life~
Always look on the bright side of life~
Always look on the bright side of life~
Always look on the bright side of life~"

As the song came to an end I was smiling. "You always know how to keep me going Repulse."

She chuckled, "Aye. I remember one o' my mates from Sheffield tellin' me how th' crew sang tha' when she was sinking during th' Falklands. Anyway, let's get ye' patched up."

It took her another ten minutes to get me all bandaged. Everything hurt, but I'd live, again. Repulse stepped back into the creek to clean herself off. Meanwhile, I produced a small hand mirror and took a look at myself.

I couldn't help but wince. I looked like hell. I had two black eyes, a bandage around my forehead, and at least a dozen pinprick scabs from shell shrapnel and tree splinters on my face. Below my neck, I had three bandaged wounds on my sides. My dominant left hand was broken and I only had short stumps left of my fingers. All thoroughly bound. Last but not least was my broken right leg, still in the splint Repulse had put on me. And of course, the small shrapnel wounds weren't limited to my face, most of my body was covered in them.

I was lucky to be a shipgirl. If I'd been human, the shrapnel and splinters would have killed me.

Repulse soon came out of the water and toweled herself off. She hadn't gotten away clean either. I could see three missing fingers on her own left hand, a large gash on the right side of her torso and a dozen bruises. She also seemed to be favoring her right leg thanks to a wound on her left.

The Scot sat down beside me and began bandaging herself. I gave her a couple minutes to get the most major wounds taken care of before I finally spoke the question that had been on my mind for some time now. "What now?"

She glanced at me before turning back to bandaging her leg. "Can ye' sail?"

I winced, "Rudder is jammed dead ahead and my starboard inner screw is gone. I'll have to run two shafts to maintain a straight line. I'd only hit sixteen knots."

"Shite." She muttered as she finished her bandages, "You'll need te' call fer pickup then. My radio got blown te' bits by a fourteen incher."

"Right." I said, and when to key the radio, only to receive a very unwelcome report from my fairies. "What!? Fuuuuuuuck."

Repulse gave me a worried look, "What?"

I took and blew out a deep breath. "My radio got burnt to a crisp in one of the fires they set on me." I pinched the bridge of my nose as it sunk in. "We're stuck."

Repulse bit back a curse. "We'll have te' sail. I dunae think th' Japanese have landed here yet. We should be able te' manage it. Even if I have te' tow ye' te' keep ye' on course." She produced a large map and lay it on the ground. "Here."

It was a map of Bali, from '36 if the date on the corner was to be believed. "Where'd you get this?" I asked.

"Chart store in Soerabaja." She replied, "I collect maps from every port I visit. Little hobby I started last time around. I grabbed maps o' th' entire DEI."

As the map made plain, Bali was typical of the islands in the chain. At seventy-five nautical miles wide east-to-west, and forty-eight north-south it was far from small. The northern half was nearly uninhabited jungle mountains, while the southern portion of the island was rolling hills and housed most of the population. Small villages and a few farms dotted the northern coast. To the south was the only large settlement on the island, Denpasar, as well as an airfield.

Repulse pointed at the map, near the coast at the Bali Strait. "We're somewhere here. If'n we can find this road," She pointed to the road that ran along the north coast of the island, "We can follow it here an' use this pass te' cross th' mountains. Then we head south to Denpasar."

I nodded, "Quite the hike. Hopefully someone there has a working radio. Maybe even an aircraft that can make Australia."

"Aye." She nodded and folded up the map. "Let's get goin'."

 

[LtRainbowSlash]

Chapter 23: Heist

To reach the road we had to make our way through several miles of jungle. A slow and laborious task with a broken leg and crutch. It took several hours, but we hit the coastal road, we were able to make better time. Though I was still slowed by my wounds. We'd be lucky to get off the island within a week.

FEBRUARY 24 1942
1348 HOURS

We'd been walking for nearly three hours through the jungle before we hit the road. Only to find it was less of a road, and more a dirt track barely prevented from being overgrown by vehicles driving on it. Repulse had her platoon of marine fairies up ahead, acting as scouts. We knew the Japanese hadn't landed on this island but better safe than sorry.

We'd been walking for several hours in the tropical heat. My injuries hurt. I was uncomfortable. Frankly I was not having a good time. So in order to distract myself, I turned to Repulse.

"What are you going to do after the war, Repulse?"

She glanced at me, "Fuck if I know lass. Hard te' say wha' th' world will be like after th' war. Us ship spirits change everythin'."

I took a moment to think about that. "Huh. I hadn't thought much about that."

Repulse gave a small nod, "Buuut, I cannae think o' anythin' except th' navy. Really, it's all I've ever known in both me lives."

"First time around you joined when you were eighteen, correct?" I asked.

A nod, "Aye. Served from '47 'till '88. What about ye'?"

"I think I'll get a degree." I replied, "History or Engineering I think."

"Why those?"

"Well," I began, "I'm somewhat interested in designing new ships, maybe give some input as one myself…"

Repulse chuckled and gave me a wry smile, "Ahhh I get ye'. You want te' go from bein' a metaphorical momboat te' th' destroyers te' a literal one!"

I froze and stammered indignantly, while Repulse guffawed at my reaction. "Repulse!"

"Hehehe. Aw, hell I needed tha' laugh." She said when she finally calmed down. She shot me an amused grin, "Sometimes you're te' bloody easy Wales." I just glared at her, but it lacked any real heat. Repulse glanced over again. "An' th' history?"

I took a moment to get my thoughts back on track, "To make sure everyone remembers this war. So many mistakes in the last forty years lead to this. I don't know the exact numbers, but tens of millions are dead, or will be. We cannot repeat these same mistakes, ever."

Repulse gave a nod, "Well said lass. Well said." She sighed, "It's a bit daunting really. Knowin' everythin' will be different. I dinnae ken wha' shipspirits will do te' culture an' society. We're ageless, an' everyone will ken tha' ships are people now, so that'll open up a whole can o' worms about building and owning 'em."

I winced, "And if it constitutes slavery you mean."

"Aye."

"Oh joy. That will be real fun." I griped.

Repulse shrugged, "But something tha' will need te' be resolved. It's goin' te' be an interesting few years after th' war..."

---

1958 HOURS

As much as we'd made good time, having to use crutches and go easy meant we'd barely cleared half of the distance to the mountain pass along the northern coast. I certainly could have made it much further if I hadn't been injured.

As the sun began to set we made our way a short distance into the jungle and set up camp. Repulse strung up a pair of hammocks for us while I got a small fire going.

A small wild boar had crossed the road while we were still walking an hour earlier. It had been too far ahead for us too see, but the marines had. The platoon sergeant had been quick to shoot the thing.

Repulse had hauled it the last thirty minutes until we'd made camp. Now our cooks had descended on the carcass and begun cleaning and preparing the boar for us.

Fairies really were nice to have. As such large ships we had specialists in virtually anything we may have required, from cooks to electricians to mechanics to firefighters.

Repulse's marines were still holding a perimeter around us, just in case.

Soon Repulse joined me at the now nicely burning fire. She seemed about to talk when one of her marine fairies came out of the dark. The marines were much bigger than the normal fairies, topping a two foot, rather than one. She ran up to the battlecruiser and began reporting in a string of 'oi's.

"I see." Responded Repulse. "Wales? Got any Marines te' set up rotating sentries? Seems my platoon is getting tired."

I gave a nod, "Marine Captain?"

The aforementioned fairy popped up on my shoulder. "Oi?"

"How many marines are available for rotating sentry duty?" I asked.

"Oi. Oi oioioi oioioi oi oi oi oioioi." He explained.

I blinked in surprise. "I have a full overstrength company!?"

Repulse looked just as surprised, "Ye' wot?"

I captain nodded. I asked, "Are they those Marines we...?"

He nodded. "Oi oi."

I turned to see Repulse raising an eyebrow at me. "Care te' fill me in Wales?"

I nodded, "Before we left the home isles I was slated to transport a company of Royal Marines from Clydebank to Singapore for garrison duty. When we arrived their housing wasn't ready so they had to stay aboard. And they still were when we sortied."

Repulse's face change to one of comprehension, "Ahhh, an' they counted as yer crew, so now you have your normal platoon, and an entire company."

"Yes." I turned back to the fairy. "Set up rotating sentries. Specifics are up to you."

He nodded, "Oi oi." And disappeared. A moment later eight lee-enfield toting marines appeared and headed off to relieve Repulse's tired fairies.

By now it was dark, and the only sounds were that of the nightime jungle, and the crackle of the fire. It was… Peaceful.

"Y'awright lass?"

I started at Repulse's voice. I gave a small nod in the firelight. "Yes." We sat in silence for a moment. I glanced at her, "How do you do it? You're just..." I paused for a second to organize my thoughts. "Unflappable. I mean you do get worked up, but… You just keep going."

Repulse cocked her head to the side and gave a series of small nods as she thought about what to say. "I think it's age an' experience. I've had te' deal with loss and hardship. Obviously my parents were both gone, and my son died in a car crash in his twenties. An' when you're in th' navy fer forty years you end up in some pretty shite situations. I've learned how te' deal with it." She sighed. "I can tell yer' hurtin' lass. And we both know from uptime tha' jus' talking about it helps. So what de' you feel? Talk te' me."

I bit my lip, "Okay. I…" I sighed and hung my head, "It's just… Everything. I… I was just doing so well. I had a great job, my parents were still alive and healthy. My relationship with my brother was the best it'd ever been. And I had an amazing girlfriend of two years. And… It's gone. I've lost it all forever."

Repulse gave a small nod, "If ye' could go back…?"

"I would." I answered before she could even finish. "I had so much."

"Even if ye' would be leaving yer' sisters an' friends behind?"

I paused for a second before giving a slow nod. "I would hate to, but thirty-one years trump three." I paused as a thought occurred to me, "But if you asked me that again in five to ten years I'll likely have a very different answer."

Repulse nodded, "I get it. I miss it all too. But I was old, and my time had come. I suppose tha's why it's all a bit easier fer' me. What about in this life."

I winced, "Oh, great. Where do I even start?"

"The beginning?"

I hung my head, "Hood."

Repulse's face dropped. "Oh. Right." She produced a bottle of Royal Navy Rum. "I shoulda known I'd need a drink fer this conversation."

I just stared at her, completely unsurprised. I shrugged and produced a bottle of my own. "Oh why not."

We both took a swig. "God I miss 'er." Repulse muttered. "She was a little sister te' me. Even though she was only a year younger." A nostalgic smile appeared on her face. "Me an' Renown basically adopted her the day we met. 'Course by th' thirties we were the only battlecruisers left. Tha' jus' brought us even closer."

I sighed and took another swig, "I'm sorry, Repulse."

"Oi. None o' tha' survivors guilt shite!" She chastised, "I know ye'. An' ye' do yer very best every. Single. Time. It wasnae yer fault."

"I know."

"What next?"

"We died."

Repulse chuckled, "Aye, tha' we did. I really thought tha' was it." She shook her head in amusement, "No' a day goes by tha' I don't think about how lucky we are."

A small smile crossed my face. Typical of Repulse to be an optimist. "I guess we are."

We fell into silence again, sitting before the flicking fire in the night. Finally Repulse spoke again, "I think I see th' problem Wales." She gestured dismissively, "Now I'm nae shrink, so this is jus' my best guess. But ye' haven't had time te' grieve for what you've lost and process all this. We've been balls-to-the-wall since Singers. Nae time to stop and work through it."

"Mmmm. Probably." I said.

"Tell ye' what." She said again, "When we get te' Aussieland, I'll get us as much leave as I can, and we'll jus' go have a good time and work though all o' this. Ay?"

I smiled faintly. "I'll hold you to that. Oh." I said, before yawning and stretching.

"Long day wasn't it?" Repulse smirked, "Started wi' a gunfight, and spent th' rest o' th' day walking." She stood up, "Cooks are done chopping up th' pig. Ye' relax, I can cook it. After we eat I'm going to sleep."

"Sounds good."

---

FEBRUARY 28 1942
1010 HOURS

It took us two days total to reach the pass. We'd passed a few signs of civilization, but not seen anyone. The road had turned from a bush track into a proper dirt road. Each day a separate platoon of marines took the lead, walking about fifty yards ahead. On the third day ashore we'd begun the climb. The road wound up the mountainside through the jungle. It took us another two days just to reach the summit of the pass. Something that would have only taken one day if I hadn't limped the whole way. But finally we began our descent back down the other side. I was hot, sweaty and still in pain.

Have I ever mentioned how much I hate the tropics?

Myself and Repulse we chatting to pass the time. "...I'm just saying, Beckam is the greatest of all time. 'Bend it like Beckham' is a saying for a reason."

"And I'm sayin' it's ok te' be wrong lass."

"Oh bugger off!"

BANG

We both froze at the gunshot, I instinctively tried to crouch and caused myself unnecessary pain in the process. The first shot was joined moments later by a second, down the winding mountain road and around a righthand bend. Then a third, fourth, fifth and blossoming into the cacophony of full blown firefight complete with grenade explosions.

Repulse immediately produced a lee-enfield from her armoury and took off down the road at a sprint. "Wait! Repulse!" I shouted. "God damn it!" I said as I set off after her as quickly as I could with my crutch.

Repulse disappeared around the corner before I was even halfway there. I was just about there when the gunfire began to die down, and eventually stopped.

Repulse appeared back around the corner. "Easy lass!" She yelled over, "All clear!"

It took me a moment more to reach her. "What the hell was that!?"

"Ummm…" The Scot started, trying to figure out what to say, "I'll jus' show ye. Brace yerself."

She led me around the corner and I nearly hurled. Six corpses lay on the road, each bloodied and laying as they had died. All of them wore the uniform of the Imperial Japanese Army. Around them, in cover and guns up, were the twenty-six fairies of my 3rd marine platoon.

I winced at the corpses. "Platoon Lieutenant!"

The officer fairy came running over, her soup bowl helmet bouncing. "Oi oi?"

"What happened? Report."

What followed was a detailed recap of events. From where we'd been the road turn right, then left again thirty yards later. The fairies, fifty yards ahead of us, had come around the first bend, and ran smack dab into the Japanese soldiers coming the opposite direction around the next turn.

The two sides had stared stunned for a moment, before the platoon sergeant had shot one of the eight nips. The rest of the platoon, rifles already loaded, just in case, each fired a round, and then ran for cover. As a consequence, five more of the Japanese had gone down while the last two had dove for cover. Two of the fairies also got shot. From there both sides had hidden in cover. Five grenades had ended it moments later, the frags killing both of the remaining infantrymen.

All eight of the Japanese had been killed, while the platoon had lost four of their own. Two to the opening exchange, and two when one of the two Japanese still up had thrown a grenade at them. Two other fairies were wounded, and if I could take them aboard to the medbay, that would be great.

Repulse let out an impressed whistle when the ell-tee finished. "Four fer eight, nae bad Loot." She turned to me, "But you know what this means?"

"Bollocks." I muttered, "The Nips are on the island."

"Aye." She turned back to the fairy, "Get these bodies policed an' out o' sight, an' th' wounded aboard." Turning back to me, "I'd recommend switching out yer platoons."

Both the fairy and I nodded, "Good idea."

---

MARCH 4 1942
1908 HOURS

It took us another four days to cross south across the island. Now that we knew the Japanese had occupied the island we started traveling at night and hiding to sleep away the day. We were also far more careful to not be as we walked south along the roads and wound through the locals' rice fields.

Now the two of us laid prone on a hill where we'd snuck up. We were observing the island's airstrip with binoculars in the evening light. "Betties. Looks like a full squadron." I muttered. "At my sixteen knots… We'd never get out of range before sunup. I think we're trapped."

I heard Repulse snort, and glanced over to see an amused smile on her face, "Ohhhh nooooo. It's a shame we dunae have someone who can fly a plane."

I just stared at her in surprise. "You want to steal one?"

She shrugged, "Why not? Ye' can fly one, righ'?"

I glanced back at the field. It was just that: a grass field. Two larger hangers did occupy the corner, but most of the planes and ground crew's equipment was just out in the open. A fair amount of said ground crew were visible working on the various aircraft. A tent city was behind the hangars, where most of the men lived if I had to guess.

"Maybe?" I muttered, "I mean, yoke, pedals and throttle are universal. But I haven't the faintest on how to start one of those. I mean if all the labeling was in english it'd be easy. But I don't read moonrune."

Repulse bit her lip, "Best guess, how likely is it ye' can manage it?"

I stared at one of the green painted medium bombers through my binoculars. "Hard to say. If I had twenty or thirty minutes to just sit in the cockpit and try to figure it all out? I'd say there'd be a fairly good chance."

"Well looks like th' Jappos are jus' clearing out fer th' evening. So we may get tha' chance." They were too. As the sun set they had to stop working, since they didn't seem to have much in the way of portable lights.

"Okay," I replied, "but they arn't just going to leave an aircraft fuelled for us."

"Then we use tha' one." She said, pointing to one specific aircraft. "Awfully kind o' them te' set it all up fer us."

I looked where she was pointing and almost did a double take. A look through the binoculars confirmed it. My hand met my face, "Idiots." The ground crew had left a large tanker truck parked right next to a G4M. Not only was it a massive hazard, but it was also a perfect target for saboteurs. Or would be hijackers like us.

One of my marines popped up on my shoulder. "Oi."

"Yes?"

"Oi oi oi oi oi oi oi oi oioi oi?"

"Wait, Timebombs?" I asked, "We have some?"

"Oi oi oioi oi oi."

I nodded, "Do it, convert as many shells as you think you need."

Repulse nodded as well. "If that's what we're doing, here's what we're going to do…"

---

The plan was simple. At 0100 we'd slip onto the airfield and climb aboard the betty. While I was figuring out the controls, Repulse would fuel the plane up, and our fairies would slip into the rest of the airfield, carrying nearly two dozen of my 5.25 inch brass propellant charges or shells. All of which had a timer installed, making them into IED timebombs. The little buggers would place and hide them wherever they could, not easy thanks to the size of the casings and shells.

I could somewhat walk on the splint that kept my right leg steady, and had therefore forgone the crutch in order to be more stealthy.

The first part went perfectly. The two of us slipped under the perimeter fence and climbed up through the belly of the aircraft. With Repulse's help I was able to climb up into the cockpit. It had a fairly standard layout for a larger aircraft with two seats. Two set of instruments, one for each seat, two yokes, to sets of pedals, and the throttle controls in between the two seats.

I was about to sit down in the left side chair, normally the captain's seat, before I glanced down at my mangled left hand. There was no way in hell I was going to be able to use the yoke with no fingers. But I could use the throttles with just my palm…

I settled down in the right copilot's seat, quickly making sure I'd be able to use the controls. Satisfied, I swept my gaze over the cockpit. Before I could take a closer look there was a clunk. I looked out of the cockpit in alarm only to see Repulse under the wing, just having connected the fuel hose. She gave me a thumbs up. I returned it, and turned back to the controls.

It took Repulse the next ten minutes to top off both wing tanks, time which I used to figure out the cockpit. I found the gear and flaps leavers easily enough, those being quite standard, as well as the instruments. Despite being labeled in Japanese, each one was distinct enough in function and familiar enough I could understand easily enough.

I just had two problems. I still had no clue how to start the aircraft, nor could I understand the all important airspeed indicator. Or sure, I knew which dial it was, but I couldn't read the labeling and had no idea what scale it was.

I was still trying to understand when Repulse came climbing up. "All good lass?"

"Not quite." I muttered, "Can't find the bloody magnetos to start the damn thing."

"What does-"

BANG

Both our heads snapped left at the sound of a rifle shot.

Repulse cursed, "We've been made. Get this thing runnin'. I'll discourage th' curious."

She spun and loudly exited the plane once more as I turned back to frantically searching for the magneto switch. This was about to get hairy.

---

As soon as I left Wales in the aircraft I spotted several fairy marines in cover near the plane and pointing them towards the hanger. The first shot had escalated into a firefight, rifles exchanging fire with the occasional automatic burst of a submachine gun. I quickly produced a lee-enfield of my own and found cover behind an aircraft engine about twenty meters from the plane.

More fairies came running in small groups. Upon seeing me most found their own cover and dug in. The gunfire petered out, and for a moment I thought the fairies had won. I was soon disabused of that idea when ten fairies appeared out of one of the hangars running like hell. They quickly ducked amongst the aircraft and servicing equipment along the perimeter and kept running.

Moments later nearly thirty Nips came charging out of the hangar after them. There was the crack of a rifle and the first man out crumpled. The rest dove for cover, and I as well as the rest of the fairies opened up. It very quickly turned into a chaotic firefight as bullets began to crack past my head. I fired eight rounds, not knowing if I hit anything, and ducked to reload.

As soon as I popped up a round skipped off my cheek, throwing me to the ground more out of surprise and shock than anything else. "Fuck!"

I lay behind my cover in shock for a moment. "Okay… I'm okay." I eased myself back to a crouch and looked for the rifle. I could barely feel myself think over the din of gunfire. I finally spotted the rifle a few meters away in the open. "Naaaae fuck that." I muttered and just pulled out a tommy gun from my armoury. "Okay… Comeon Reanne, your bullet proof. You'll be fine. Comeon. Comeon COMEON COMEON!" I shouted to hype myself up. I stood up and rejoined the fight with a yell, "BRING IT ON YOU YELLOW WANKERS!"

The fight was going well. Four platoons, over a hundred of 'The Prince of Wales own' Royal Marines who had the additional advantage of being tiny two foot tall targets were doing a number on the nips. The amount of incoming fire was much lower, though several marines were helping their wounded comrades back towards the plane.

Of course that was before dozens of Japs appeared from the camp, some in sleepwear, but all carrying weapons. "Oh fuck!" I cursed and opened up as they found cover. The amount of airborne lead doubled nearly instantly. More fairies went down, and another three bullets stung my skin in quick succession. "God fucking-!" I cursed and stood up again, "Fuck this!"

In a flash, my rigging appeared.

The next moment, I opened up with every single gun I had.

The hangars exploded into pieces as 15-inch HE tore them to shreds. I watched a 4-inch HE shell tear another man's head off, and not even detonate. The rest of my 4-inch detonated amongst the infantry sending dozens to the ground. My pom-poms too raked automatic fire across the enemy.

It was a slaughter.

I didn't have time to process though as I heard the bang-pop of Wales finally starting the G4M's engines.

"Get to the fucking plane!" I yelled at the fairies.

---

Repulse was mad. She'd pulled her rigging and fired her fiteens on land. I knew that just from hearing the roar of her guns as I frantically searched the cockpit.

Finally I spotted it, and had to resist the urge to facepalm. Of course it was only on the pilots side. Everything in the cockpit was duplicated and symmetrical, except for this one switch. Of course every aircraft I'd flown did that, how the hell had I managed to not look for it there.

I leaned over and flicked it to start while feeding fuel into the engines. Sure enough, they caught and roared to life. Almost immediately there was a stream of fairies hopping into the aircraft and disappearing back aboard.

I itched to throttle up. Sitting like this the plane was a sitting duck. But I had to wait. "Hurry Repulse!" I yelled, even though neither of us had a radio.

A minute later she scrambled through the hatch. "Fucking GO!"

I threw the throttles wide open and the plane began to roll across the grass. I winced at the crack of bullets whizzing past the plane, and again when a bullet punched a hole in the glass.

Without the airspeed indicator I was flying on feel, and finally felt the plane lighten. I eased back and the Betty leapt into the air. The gear came up, and using my own internal compass, I turned south.

There were a few moments of silence, and my adrenaline finally began to subside. It nearly came back when I heard a loud CLANG, and a pained curse from Repulse. "MotherFUCKER!"

"You alright?" I asked over my shoulder.

"Aye." Repulse replied. There were faint footsteps as she joined me up front. The battlecruiser settled down into the pilots seat still clutching her head, "Fucken, short little jap shits didnae make this wi' six footers in mind. Ow."

I stared for a second before breaking down laughing. "Aaaaahahahaha! Oh my god Repulse! Hahahaaaaa!"

"Wot."

That only made me laugh harder. "You...Ha! You get into a fire, heh, firefight that fierce. Hahahaaa! And the worst pain is when you bang your head on the escape vehicle! HAAAAAA!"

I was laughing so hard and yet Repulse still didn't get it. I just laughed harder. "Ooooh. Thanks Repulse. I needed that."

"Riiiiight." She pouted from beside me.

Things fell back into silence for a few minutes as I kept the plane climbing through the dark. Once I hit six thousand feet I leveled off and eased the throttle, and turned to Repulse with a shit eating grin.

She just shook her head, "Yer punchdrunk off tha' adrenaline lass. Get it out o' yer system."

I just grinned wider, "Ladies and fairies, this is your captain speaking. We have reached our cruising altitude of six thousand feet. Thank you for choosing Prince of Wales Air, and we hope you enjoy the flight. Next stop, a land of beaches and beer, the land down under, as the locals call it: 'Straya!"

 

[LtRainbowSlash]

AN: And now after an action packed Part 2, we get the slower, calmer Part 3.
Part 3: Respite
Chapter 24: Safety

The DEI campaign was a disaster, and yet went as well as could be expected. As ABDAFLOT, we'd been a formidable force, with upwards of thirty frontline combat vessels. In hindsight, initially the Japanese massively underestimated us, allowing for a textbook defeat in detail at the battles of the Makassar Strait and the Java Sea. As a consequence, over the course of the campaign we'd forced the Japanese to commit all four Kongos, both Nagatos and both Fusos, as well as the four active fleet carriers of the Kido Butai. Of course, the end result was the same, it just cost the IJN far more resources. With the DEI conquered the war moved into something of a phoney war period. The Japanese took a short time to regroup and prepare their next offensives, while we licked our own wounds and fortified our positions in preparation to repel the next Japanese assaults.

As for me, I was no longer the fresh faced young woman that had faced Bismarck. I had ample experience, and had most certainly learned from it. I was now the most experienced and the most powerful Allied surface combatant in the Pacific. Both advantages I'd sorely need in the brutal fighting to come. But in the meantime, we had some badly needed rest and recuperation in Australia.

MARCH 5 1942
0658 HOURS

As it turns out, flying with wounds was quite an unpleasant experience. After six hours sitting in the copilot's seat, my broken leg ached where I had it on the pedals. I had my left arm resting in my lap since I didn't need it to fly. I was tired, but we were almost there.

Repulse, on the other hand, was napping in the Pilot's seat. Luckily she didn't snore, but I was thoroughly jealous. She'd had time to change into her cleaner summer whites and nap, while I was stuck in dirty khakis and had to keep flying. I was more than looking forward to good food, a nice bath, and a warm bed once we reached Australia.

It'd been a long flight, but I finally spotted the distant shadow of land through the morning glare. "Oi, wake up." I spoke over the drone of the engines. Repulse didn't even stir. I went to poke her before a jolt of pain shot through my left arm. "Agh. God-..." I bit back a curse, and instead yelled in exasperation over the radio, "Repulse!!"

She jolted awake in her seat, eyes wide and looking for threats. She seemed to quickly realise where she was. "Wales?" She asked and yawned, "We there yet?"

"Take a look." I replied, nodding out the window.

"Finally," She muttered and stifled another yawn. "Where are we?"

I just shrugged, "My nav fairies lost track. Not used to airborne navigation. Grab a chart and start looking at the coast for landmarks would you?"

"A'ight." She nodded, climbing out of the pilots seat. I heard her sit down at the navigators chart table and unfurl a map.

I kept flying, banking the G4M to fly south along the coast, nice and close for Repulse to get a good look out the window. It took her about five minutes to find our position.

"Got it!" Repulse exclaimed, "We're abou' thirty miles up th' coast from Carnarvon. Looks like th' town's big enough fer small airfield. How's th' fuel?"

I glanced at the gauge. "Just under half." I suppressed a groan from my aches. "We should land there. Don't know how long I can keep this up."

"Your call, lass. You're the pilot." Repulse replied, already climbing back into the pilot's seat.

I took a moment to think, then eased back on the throttle to begin descending and said, "If it's all the same to you, I think I'll put her down then."

Repulse just nodded in reply. I brought the plane down to what I thought was two thousand feet, and continued down the coast. Within five minutes the small town came into view.

Like most coastal towns, Carnarvon was on a river where it met the sea. It wasn't a very large town. I could see the main street, a promenade along the beach, and only a small port. Just from seeing it from the air I would've been very surprised if more than two thousand people called the town home.

My eyes finally landed on a large dry grass field just inland from the town itself, and I banked towards it. As I buzzed by I was able to make out a large white clubhouse building, with 'Carnarvon Flying Club' painted in big black letters on the roof. I could also see a pair of civilian Piper Cubs parked outside.

I eased the G4M into a orbit as I looked over the field. "Tha' big enough lass?" Repulse asked, doing the same.

I bit my lip. It wasn't huge. Maybe five hundred by eight hundred yards at most. Not big enough to take off with the Betty if I had my guess right. But a landing roll was usually shorter than takeoff. The problem lay in my complete inexperience with the G4M. I had no idea how good the brakes were, or what the landing speed was.

I blew out a breath and eased the bomber out into a circuit. "I'll try a couple of dummy approaches. Get the feel for the plane in landing trim."

Repulse nodded, "Do wha' ye' need te'. I'd rather no' end up as a smear on th' ground."

"Mmm," I hummed, focusing on flying. Once we'd reached the far end of the circuit I eased the plane back around, and lined up with the field. I pulled the throttle back. "Do the gear and flaps for me if you would?" I asked Repulse without looking away from the field. "This is the gear lever, this is flaps." I explained, using my mauled left hand to touch them before going back to the throttle and adding a bit of gas as I felt the controls get sluggish. Something that often happened before a stall in most aircraft.

"Aye. What'd'ya need?"

"Gear down, flaps ten." I ordered, still focusing on flying. It was taking all of my concentration. I still couldn't read the airspeed indicator, so I was forced to fly on feel, and it was incredibly difficult.

I watched the field grow closer, constantly making small adjustments on the controls. As we approached the border fence I shook my head, "Too high. Balls." The nearly idling engines roared to life again, and I pulled up and away to go around. "Gear and flaps up."

"Gear an' flaps up, aye."

It took a moment to climb up and go around. My second approach I came in too low, and around we went again.

Finally I lined up for my third approach. "Gear down, flaps ten. We'll try with more flaps when we get closer this time." I instructed Repulse.

"Aight." She affirmed.

This time my approach was far better. I kept the plane stable, adjusting the throttle to keep us on what I assumed was the correct glide path. "Flaps fifteen."

"Done."

I felt the plane lighten immediately, almost seeming to float, and cut the throttle. "Looking good...Flaps twenty."

The plane lightened further, and I flared the aircraft as we crossed the border fence. There was a dull thud as the wheels hit grass and then bounced. I kept level, eased for a second flare, and finally felt the aircraft settle onto the ground. Of course, stopping before we ran out of grass would be the tricky part. I stomped on the brakes, and the plane began to slow. I grit my teeth, it was going to be close.

We continued slowing, but the fence just kept coming. At a hundred yards away I realise we were not going to make it with just the brakes. I was immediately thankful I was flying a taildragger with a wide wheelbase, as I kicked full left rudder. The G4M immediately pivoted, shuddered and decelerated as it essentially drifted sideways to a stop.

I just sat numb from the adrenaline for a few moments. I heard Repulse turn towards me, and I glanced at her. The battlecruiser's face was as white as a sheet.

The look on her face made me snort, and erupt into full blown laughter. A moment later she joined me as we both drowned in our relief. We'd made it. We'd survived.

"Bloody hell." Was the first thing out of my mouth once we'd both calmed down. "That was the most difficult landing I've made in my entire life."

"Don' care." Repulse replied. "We're alive an' safe. Tha's wha' matters."

I nodded, stretched, and took the controls once more. "Guess so. Let's taxi over."

After the last ten minutes, taxiing the G4M over to the building was easy and almost calming to me. As we approached the club building Repulse spoke up.

"Prolly shoulda expected tha'." I followed her gaze to what had to be a small group of Australian soldiers finding cover around the clubhouse and pointing a very large number of Lee Enfields and Bren Guns at us.

"Friendly looking bunch huh?" I muttered as I stopped the plane beside the building. Repulse was already climbing out of her seat while I cut the engines.

"I'll go say hi an' make sure they donnae shoot us." I said.

I nodded, "I'll be right behind you."

I turned back to the controls, and it was quick work to finish shutting the plane down. A minute later I climbed out of my seat and made my way to the exit hatch on the floor, just behind the cockpit. Easing myself down, I heard Repulse begin talking outside.

"Mornin' laddies!"

I cleared the bottom of the plane and pulled out my crutch, limping up behind her. Most of the Australian soldiers were aiming their guns straight at the battlecruiser. "Who the hell are you!?" Someone yelled.

"Captain McKay, Royal Navy, Special Naval Service." Repulse rattled off in reply. "Who's in charge here?"

There was silence for a moment before an older looking officer appeared from cover, and approached us. The army rank of Captain was displayed on his shoulders. "You two RN ship spirits?" He asked in a thick Australian accent.

Repulse gave a nod, "Yes."

I seemed to regard us for a moment, then turned and shouted over his shoulder. "Someone check the plane!"

A moment later two infantrymen cautiously made their way over to the G4M, guns up. One climbed up into the still open hatch. A moment later he appeared in the cockpit and gave the Captain a thumbs up. Said officer gave one back and turned to us. "May I see your military ID ma'am?"

Repulse nodded and handed hers over. He spent a few moments looking it over before handing it back. As soon as Repulse took it he gave her a salute. "Apologies about that ma'am. But when an enemy bomber lands with two strange women aboard, more than a little suspicion is warranted. Captain Hawthorn, CO of B Company, Australian Militia 44th Infantry Battalion. My company is the local garrison. When we saw your plane trying to land I got 2nd platoon out here. We thought you were Japanese. How'd you get the plane?"

Repulse returned his salute, "Got trapped behind enemy lines an' stole it." She gestured at where I stood behind her. "Commander Windsor here is a pilot." She explained. "Do ye' have a phone we could use te' call our superiors at th' naval base in Perth?"

He nodded, turning and beckoning us to follow him, "Yes, though you'll wanna ask the operator for HMAS Leeuwin, since that's what the base is called."

As we walked towards the building he waved over the platoon Lieutenant, "Guard the plane, we'll have someone from the Air Force come collect it."

"Yes Sir."

He turned back as he led us towards a small dirt parking lot behind the building. "Which ships are you?"

Repulse shook her head, "Sorry Captain, bu' I'm sure ye' know ship movements are classified."

"Oh, of course." He replied as we reached a staff car. "Hop in ladies. You can use the phone in my office in our barracks."

The two of us got in the back seat while Captain Hawthorn sat beside his driver.

It was a short drive to the barracks. Less than five minutes in fact. Carnarvon was hardly a large place after all.

Once we'd arrived, he led us into what had to be some kind of converted warehouse. The inside had been sectioned off into small bunk rooms with canvas. While one of his company's platoons was at the flying club, some of the rest of the men were here, and we drew more than a few stares from them as we made our way through the building. Most of the staring stopped of course when the Captain cleared his throat, prompting the curious stares to flee as the militiamen snapped to attention with salutes as he passed.

Before long we reached a small door in the warehouse wall that led into an office space. He led up into one of the offices. It was sparsely furnished, but had the mountains of paperwork I expected from the military.

"Phone's there." He said pointing to an old phone on the wall. And I mean old even by 40's standards.

As Repulse went to pick up the phone I pointed at a chair sitting in front of Hawthorn's desk. "May I?"

He just waved me off as he sat down at the desk and started doing paperwork. I grabbed the chair and quickly dragged it to sit beside the battlecruiser as she made our call.

"Operator?"

I was just able to make out the tinny female reply, "Hello ma'am. How can I help you?"

"I need te' place a call te' th' naval base in Perth, HMAS Leeuwin."

"One moment please."

For a minute the only sound was the rustling of paper as the Captain did his paperwork. I found myself yawning and rubbing my eyes. I needed some sleep. I'd been up all night flying.

Finally a male voice came over the phone, "HMAS Leeuwin."

"Yes, hello. This is Captain Reanne McKay o' th' SNS. I need te' speak wi' Cap-Commadore Tennant urgently."

"One moment please."

Another moment passed, but sure enough the next voice through the phone was recognizable as the now Commodore Tennant. "Rep-anne!?"

I snorted at his near slip of the tongue. Repulse smiled in amusement too. Still, on an open line it was best to be careful. "Th' one an' only Sir. It's good te' hear yer voice."

"Likewise." He replied, "As much as I'd like to know what happened, it'd be better saved for in person." The implication that we shouldn't say anything classified over the open line went unsaid. "Where are you? Is Windsor with you? Are you hurt?"

"Carnarvon. We jus' arrived. Met th' local garrison. Gwen's a bit knackered, bu' we're both aight."

"Good. Let's get you down here. Are you mobile?"

"Negative."

"Mmmm. Okay… Could the garrison lend a vehicle and driver to drive you down the coast?"

"Let me ask." She turned to Captain Hawthorn. "Could you arrange fer someone te' drive us te' Perth?"

He blinked. "That's a long way, but it should be doable in two days driving. If the navy is willing to pay for the petrol and the hotel stay of course."

Repulse nodded, "Done." She turned back to the phone. "Guess we'll be there ina couple days sir."

"I look forward to it. See you soon girls."

---

2013 HOURS

It was nine hours of driving later that we pulled up to a small inn in the town of Geraldton for the night. I'd retired to my room early, and now found myself looking at the bathroom mirror.

I looked rough. My hair was down and frazzled, and a bandage circled my head. My eyes were bloodshot, and several small scabs decorated my face from where schrapel had slashed me. My kakis were sweat stained and covered in dirt, and bulged slightly from hidden bandages underneath.

I needed to clean up. So I did. Once I had the bathtub filling I enlisted my medical fairies to help remove my clothes, bandages and splints.

The warm water was heavenly. I couldn't even remember the last time I'd been able to just relax. I took my time, enjoying the bath and slowly cleaning away all the grime.

An hour later I emerged from the bathroom in a fluffy white bathrobe. I'd had my fairies help bandage me back up, as well as straightening my hair back into its usual bob. I felt so much better.

I eased myself onto the bed with a happy moan. After a week of sleeping on the ground, I felt like heaven. Having access to warm running water, good food, and a soft bed… I was never going to take modern comforts for granted ever again.

The realization that I was safe and comfortable also made my self control snap again, and I cried myself to sleep that night.

---

MARCH 7 1942
1755 HOURS

It was late afternoon the next day when we finally pulled up to the gate of HMAS Leeuwin, just up the river from Fremantle harbour. Getting past the front gate was an easy matter of flashing our IDs and asking which building was the HQ.

We soon walked up, or hobbled up in my case, the steps of the red brick building. A receptionist soon led us to a second floor office. Repulse knocked. "Enter."

We entered the room to find Commodore Tennant behind a desk. The normally stoic man's face lit up when he saw us. "Repulse. Wales. Bloody good to see you both alive. When all those carrier aircraft came over, we all thought you were dead. How did you survive?"

"Let's just say our resident battlecruiser is a genius." I replied, giving Repulse an amused sidelong glance.

She waved me off, "Ye' flatter me lass. But it wasnae tha' special. I jus' thought abou' how we can jus' dismiss our rigging an' walk on land. Figured it mighta gotten us outta tha' fight alive. And it did."

At the Commodores uncomprehending look, I elaborated. "When the planes showed up, Repulse ordered us to run aground on Bali, so we could dismiss our rigging and run into the jungle. Something of a disappearing act. We got a bit banged up before we made it, but we did. We spent that last week on that island, and stole a Betty to fly to Carnarvon."

Repulse's former captain just stared for a moment, then turned to his former command. "Well done." He glanced at me, "Both of you."

Repulse nodded, "Thank you Sir."

"Well, I'd assume you two are tired after a long drive." He said standing up from his desk, "Let's get you rooms, and a quick tour." He glanced at the white bandages and splints that accented my summer whites. "We've also already got repair baths up, so I suspect I know where you'll be spending the next few days. Follow me."

---

MARCH 8 1942
0832 HOURS

The next morning found me in the base mess, getting breakfast before heading to the baths. I'd gotten a good sleep, and for the first time in weeks felt relaxed. I was safe, was going to be healing, and had all the modern comforts I could ask for.

It was a happy sigh that escaped me as I ate my waffles.

Of course, as was typical, the morning calm was broken a moment later by four young girl's voices. "Wales!"

I had just a moment to brace myself before four hyper destroyers all tried to tackle-hug me where I sat. "Ooof."

"You're back!" Jupiter exclaimed happily.

"You're here!" Grinned Electra.

"Everyone made it!" Encounter exclaimed.

"How'd you survive?" Asked Express.

I found myself laughing at the four destroyer's usual energy. "It's good to see you too girls."

"How about us?" I turned at the american voice to see Boise, Houston, De Ruyter and Perth all walking over to join us. Of course Perth had made it. She'd left a few days before we had, due to her damage from the Battle of the Java sea. But I'd been afraid one or more of the rest may not have, thanks to submarines and the Japanese carriers. It was a massive relief.

I just kept smiling, "You all made it. That got real dicey there didn't it?"

Houston shook her head. "Not quite." My heart sank. "Perth got torped by a sub on her way back." I glanced at the blond Aussie to see her hang her head. The texan then pointed to herself an Express, "The two of us got mauled by the Japanese carrier planes. We're SHIPs now."

"Oh. Damn." I muttered, before panic shot through me. "Wait, Captain Leach was-"

"Aboard me, yeah." Express cut in. ""E's fine, so you can stop panicking."

"Oh." I said, calming down. I glanced around the table, "So then… Everyone here except Ruyter is a SHIP now?"

There was a round of nods. "Huh."

Houston chuckled, "Yeeeah. I think things are goin' to get reeeeeal interesting."

 

[LtRainbowSlash]

Written by my good friend TnaB on SB.

MARCH 8 1942
0900 HOURS

The battle of Bali Strait and subsequent escape had taken its toll, and I was hurting everywhere. While I could detail my own damage, I'll leave it to USS Holland (AS-3), or Holly Chase as she's known today, who tended to me in the repair baths in Perth.

In early 1942, the field of shipgirl medicine was still in its infancy, though the number of patients ensured constant learning opportunities. One of them was Gwendolyn Winsor, who arrived in Perth in early March shot full of holes.

Despite the need for warships to do the fighting, there had been plenty of work for us auxiliaries, too. Black Hawk and I had been busy repairing and refitting the survivors of the Asiatic Fleet that had made it to Australia. Only about half the American fleet had escaped the Philippines, and the Dutch and others had also suffered losses. However, with the appearance of ship spirits, particularly heavy combatants such as Gwen and also Reanne McKay, the Japanese had been stalled long enough for a few more to make a break for safety.

The work at drydock and fitting piers was unending. My steel hull buzzed with activity round the clock, though I myself was often shoreside or onboard another ship to lend a hand. Since becoming a visible ship spirit, my crew had all taken to me wholeheartedly, and I them, which meant that I didn't often have to press my rank to get anything done. Not that it would have helped; I was often clad in dirty coveralls in those days and hardly looked impressive to anyone.

A group of civilian dock foremen native to Perth and Fremantle and repair reps from various navies based there would meet every morning to have a chat over coffee, discuss priority of effort for the day, and catch up. Mostly business. That's where I first heard that Gwen had arrived. Despite repair being the primary topic of discussion, I didn't realize the full extent of her injuries at the time. Humans were still getting their heads around the idea of damage control tailored for ship spirits, despite two of us regularly attending the meetings.

Since the repair baths had been established, most shipgirls had been able to take care of themselves, but either Black Hawk or I had made an effort to at least go meet with each of them. Neither of us were scientists - nor doctors - but with so much we still didn't know, any information could help.

I'm told that we, "Hawky and Holly," made an odd pair. In retrospect, I suppose we did. Black Hawk tended to the more serious, wearing a pair of thin glasses and a lab coat she had scrounged somewhere. Me, I like to get my hands dirty. Or as our friend Houston put it, "the business and the party." We worked well together.

So at the morning meeting when Black Hawk glanced at a clipboard with Gwen's damage estimate and put on a concerned face, it came as no surprise that she wanted my opinion.

She handed me the paperwork. "Take a look."

"Good lord." I grimaced and flipped a few pages. "If she'd been anything other than a battleship…"

It was not good bedside manner to be anything other than positive to a patient's face. That's part of why I'm glad I had someone like Black Hawk to talk to. Still, at least if a shipgirl made it back to land, then she was generally in the clear, and despite the grim damage Gwen had suffered, she would pull through.

After the meeting I took the clipboard under my arm and headed for the repair baths. I'd never met the spirit of HMS Prince of Wales before, but she was the only one there when I arrived, up to her neck in the water.

Sizing up a fellow shipgirl is always a bit of hit and miss. Without rigging, one can only get a general sense of nationality and shape. I often confuse people because I'm the size of a light cruiser, with more guns for self defense than a destroyer, but look like a liner. And the grubby mechanic jumpsuit didn't help either.

So I was sure to introduce myself. "Good morning, I'm Lieutenant Commander Holland - or you can call me Holly."

Kneeling at the edge of the bath, I offered my left hand for a shake as it was closest. I'd momentarily forgotten her condition, and apparently she had too, because when Gwen lifted her left hand to shake, I was suddenly reminded that she was missing her fingers on that side and the two of us both awkwardly drew back.

"Apologies, I'm not much of a southpaw at the moment," she said dryly, though British-dry, so I figured she had actually intended the joke.

No hard feelings. I got down to business, telling her why I was there, and opening with a mild joke of my own. "Unfortunately there are no battleship tenders, so they sent me, a submarine tender, to fill in." I explained that I had come to take an assessment of her damage and confirm that the detail in my paperwork was accurate. I sat down crosslegged at the edge of the bath as we talked it over.

I still couldn't shake my dismay at the punishment she had endured. Up in the Bali Strait, aircraft had dropped five bombs on her decks and two torpedos that destroyed one of her four screws and jammed her rudder. There had been twenty nine major-caliber shell hits from a cluster of enemy battleships, resulting in two turrets destroyed and a third damaged, a hole straight through her belt, damage to her engine room, destroyed radio, destroyed aircraft, fires, and to top it off, a demolished bridge.

It was staggering. Without running aground - literally - she would have been sunk. Though as her doctor - well, as her attending mechanic - I didn't think I needed to tell her what she already knew.

I hated to ask her to stand up from the bath, but I needed data on her human form. I had to help her as she stood, giving her my shoulder to lean on, but making it cumbersome for me to also inspect her injuries. From the human medical report, she'd been diagnosed with a probable cracked rib, two mangled limbs, and dozens of cuts and bruises from shrapnel wounds, not to mention the severed fingers.

It didn't obviously scale, applying shell impacts on a hull to a female body. "A destroyed bridge?" I asked, carefully moving her hair to inspect lesions on her scalp and hoping she didn't take too much offense to the dirt under my fingernails.

"A shell to the face," she confirmed as I finished my inspection and helped her back into the depths of the bath. "I was knocked out for forty minutes. I'm lucky my XO is brilliant."

That sparked a lengthy conversation about fairies and I think we both learned a few things from the information exchange. I'm a tender, I supply parts and materiel, but it's crew that get things done. That the fairies could somewhat puppet an unconscious shipgirl to safety was simultaneously relieving and unnerving.

"We're still gathering information," I told her honestly upon finishing my inspection. "I wouldn't want to speculate, but perhaps someday with a better idea of how shipgirls work we could refit you to the point that you'd be even better than new. Unfortunately, that's going to require some time and experimentation."

"Such as?"

I shrugged, put on the spot. "Welding new plate, maybe."

"Cyborgs?" she said.

"What?"

"Nevermind." She shook her head. "I'm still getting used to having this body, and I'm hesitant about modifying it beyond original equipment. But if it will help the others… maybe."

"I'm not running Frankenstein's lab," I said, trying to be reassuring. "It was just an idea."

She smiled, apparently taking no offense. "It's fine. This conversation is still better than being alone. The last time I wished for something interesting to happen in the repair bath, a crowd of destroyers crashed a car into it."

"They did what!?"

Her mood seemed to have improved considerably in the time we'd been talking. She told me the story, which I understand appears elsewhere in this volume. She ended with a good-natured, though weary, "Bloody destroyers."

"Some of them do cause trouble," I agreed. "Black Hawk, my partner in maintenance, has a few psychological theories. Most of what destroyers want is treats. It's less about the candy and ice cream - though that's still part of it - than it is about little affirmations and attention. They want to know they're doing a good job and get credit for it, because it's the capitals that generally get all the glory. Or at least that's what Black Hawk tells me."

"Psychological theories?" That seemed to amuse her.

I nodded. "For example, submarines require a careful touch. They're nearly all moody and I would go so far as to say exhibit signs of bipolarism. By their natures, most of the time they're supposed to be quiet and unnoticed, except for those rare explosive attacking moments. They're also usually all by themselves, without a fleet or friends. And for some reason, a lot of them are thieves, but I think that's a symptom of wanting to feel closeness and so they take things that belong to others. Though it also may be just because that's what their crews do when ashore or alongside. To bring them out of their shells, I've found that you have to be everything the ocean is not: warm, inviting, forgiving."

"What about battleships?"

I looked at her, pausing to think about what I had seen of her so far. "Well, I'm still working on that."

Debating for a moment whether to give her a motherly pat on the head as I would a submarine, I instead went for a friendly clap on the shoulder, though gently to avoid disturbing any of her injuries.

I checked my notes and got up from the side of the bath. "Thanks for the conversation. I got some useful data." I paused, lingering beside the tub. "You know, I heard your hull is in relatively shallow water. If you want, I could maybe ask one of the submarines in my squadron to pick up a memento for you."

She paused for a moment, then shook her head, "No, but thank you for the offer. I...I'd prefer we left my boys' grave alone."

Every shipgirl I meet, I find it remarkable how complicated a personality they are. Gwen had been around for less than three years at the time, but had been through more than her share of living.

Of course, as I'd learn in the next few days, even battleships can occasionally get into just as many shenanigans as destroyers.

 

[LtRainbowSlash]

Chapter 25: Drinks and Medals
After the hell that had been the last part of the DEI campaign, the safety of Perth was heaven. Being able to unwind, get myself repaired, and just relax was wonderful. The war, though ever present, faded into the background. Unfortunately I would need to spend the next two months in the repair bath...

MARCH 11 1942
1750 HOURS

A fortunate part of shipgirl physiology is that when one is damaged, and has limbs broken or amputated, the moment the corresponding ship systems are repaired to a basic functioning level in the repair bath, we get basic use of our limbs back. Such was the case with myself after we arrived in Perth. I'd only been in the bath for a few days, but my turrets and guns were traversing and able to fire, meaning my missing fingers grew back. That the loading mechanisms were nonfunctional, and there were still holes in the turret armour didn't really matter to my human form, beyond scabs and dull aches. The same went for my broken leg, thank god.

I'd never take being healthy and whole for granted ever again. At least there was the silver lining of Holly's visit. We knew so little about ourselves, and I was happy to help, even if it was just adding more data to the collective knowledge.

It was early evening, a few days later, and I sat alone in the repair bath. The rest of the base was probably on the parade ground. I was beginning to realise Admiral Spooner liked his pomp and circumstance. More promotions and medals if I had to guess.

Repulse had been my constant companion in the bath the last three days. But today she was off on the parade square. She had a repair time of three weeks, and so had been asked by the admiral to attend the parade. I, on the other hand, needed nearly two months, and so was stuck in here, bored out of my mind.

I passed the time by reading, watching movies on my laptop. I groaned. The next two months were going to be so boooooring.

As if the world had heard my complaint, I heard the door to the changing room open. I sat up and glanced over at the changing room door. Sure enough Repulse and Perth came walking into the baths area, still in their dress whites from the parade.

"Evenin' lass."

"Hello Repulse, Perth. How was the parade?" I asked.

"The usual." Perth spoke in her aussie accent, "Spooner does like his pomp an' circumstance."

"Any promotions or anything I should know about?" I asked. It would be unfortunate to address someone by the wrong rank.

"Aye." Repulse grinned. She leaned down and placed a pair of Captain's epaulettes beside the pool. "These are yours."

My eyes widened. "I got promoted, again?"

Repulse nodded proudly, "Aye. Congratulations lass."

I reached out from the bath and grabbed the new rank, stowing it away. "So that must mean you're a commodore now."

Repulse shook her head, "Nae. Houston made Commander, but yer the only two."

"Oh."

She leaned down again, "Also, here's the bar on yer DSC."

I just stared at the boxed medal. "You put me up for an award again."

"Aye." Repulse nodded, "An' I'll say what I did back in Soerabaja: Ye' deserve it lass."

I shook my head, "If I got a medal, you better have too."

Perth chuckled from off to the side, "Oh boy did she ever."

"Oh?" I turned back to the battlecruiser, "What did you get?"

Repulse sighed in exasperation, and produced a small box with a clear lid. My eyes immediately landed on the bronze cross on a red ribbon contained within. There was a moment of stunned silence as I stared. Then, "You got a bloody VC!?" I yelled.

Repulse gave me an amused grin, "Aye. Dunnae think I deserved one bu' they gave me it."

Perth just snorted where she stood nearby, "Of course you don't. It's not like you led a near suicidal rearguard of two capitals to buy your comrades time to escape, then had the creativity and quick thinking to escape alive, hide behind enemy lines, raise bloody havok, and then steal a top o' the line enemy bomber to escape and return home, while providing it for study intact. Why would that be worth a VC?"

I couldn't help but laugh at the Aussie's biting sarcasm, "Sounds rather impressive when you put it like that." I glanced at the battlecruiser in question, "But to borrow your line, you deserve it Repulse."

She gave me a small smile, "Thanks lass." She straightened up, "Anyway, we're going out with th' girls fer a night on th' town. Perth here knows some places. Care te' join us?"

"Sure. Give me…" I checked my internal clock to see how much longer I needed to stay in the bath to complete my twelve hours. "...Five minutes. Make it ten so I can go get changed."

"Perfect." Perth said, "We'll go get changed too. Meet you at the gate in ten."

---

1738 HOURS

Apparently, 'The Girls' meant every spirit on base, light cruiser or bigger. We'd caught a bus that ran from Fremantle to downtown, and now Perth led us down the main street of her namesake city. Beside her walked her sister, Hobart, and trailing behind was myself, Repulse, Houston, Boise, Exeter, and De Ruyter.

Around us, things were surprisingly busy for a wednesday evening. Trams and cars ran on the road, and the sidewalks were relatively busy.

We were all wearing various casual outfits, myself in my usual white summer dress, with sunglasses to hide my unusual red eyes. Luckily I was the only one of us with an abnormal eye colour. Most of us also had normal hair colours as well, allowing us to appear human easily enough. Despite that, we were all drawing looks. Of course, most of that could be put down as being thanks to us shipspirits as a whole tending to be at least above average in the looks department. Boise was attracting the most attention though, thanks to her seafoam green hair. Unfortunately that wasn't something she could easily hide.

I slowed my walk for a second to end up beside Boise. "Mind the attention?"

"It is pretty damn annoying," the American replied, "Not like I can change my hair color though. Not without dyeing it. At least you can hide your eyes."

I nodded and was about to reply when Perth spoke from the front of our gaggle. "Here it is."

We now stood outside a traditional looking pub. 'Fenian's Irish Pub' if the sign was to be believed. The inside was just what you'd expect. The pub was quite busy for a Wednesday evening, and Perth led us over to a large booth against one of the walls. There were a few sailors on leave mixed in with the civvies. I saw Exeter give a smile and wave to a group of four. Likely members of her crew.

We'd all just sat down when a server appeared. "Evenin' ladies." He spoke with his Australian accent. "Anything I can get for ya?"

We all made our orders, and I noted with some amusement everyone had ordered virtually the same drinks as the last time we'd been drinking back in Soerabaja. Speaking of which, I wasn't going to make the same mistake again.

Within a couple minutes he'd returned with our drinks. I happily began sipping my G and T, while Hobart got the conversion rolling. "So, bit 'o' a random question, but when is everyone's launch day? You know what, let's go by month. January."

Repulse chuckled, "That'd be me lass. January eighth nineteen-sixteen."

Exeter shook her head, "Shit, sometimes I forget how old you are."

"Ah comon lass. I'm nae tha' old."

Hobart just smiled, "February?" No one spoke, "March?"

De Ruyter made a small "uhhh," sound. We all looked at her and she blushed under the attention. "Umm, ja, I was launched in March."

"What day?" asked Boise, "Is it coming up, or did we miss it?"

Ruyter bit her lip, "It's uhhh. March eleventh?"

We all stared at her for a moment. "Isn't that today?" Exeter muttered.

Repulse just broke into a full laugh, "Well why didn't ye' jus' say so! Happy birthday lass."

Ruyter smiled, "Thanks."

We all took a moment to congratulate the redhead before Repulse waved our server down, "It's her birthday. I dunnae suppose ye've got a birthday drink or something'?"

He thought for a moment, "Well this establishment doesn't have anything like that, but I always enjoy a margarita on my birthday."

Repulse gave Ruyter a questioning glance. The Dutch girl just smiled and shrugged, "Why not?"

"How old does that make you?" Boise asked as the waiter left to get Ruyter her margarita.

"I was launched in '35. So eight."

"Well, happy eighth." Boise smiled.

"Anyone else got a launch day coming up?" Hobart asked.

"I'm on May third." I volunteered.

"Anyone is June?" Hobart asked. "No? I do know Perth's is July." She said, glancing at her sister.

"So am I." Exeter spoke. "Twenty-seventh."

Perth lit up, "No way! That's my launch day!"

Exeter looked surprised, "Wait really?"

"Yeah."

"Wow." The heavy cruiser shook her head, "What are the odds."

"We'll have to go for drinks together then." Perth said.

Exeter shook her head, "Can't. I dunno if Repulse has told all of you, but I'm sailing for Columbo on friday."

Perth pouted, "Well shit."

"Yeah."

Repulse tapped the table to draw everyone's attention. "Pipe down girls. We're in public. Dunnae mention anythin' classified. We all got human names for a reason."

Exeter gave a single nod. "Right, sorry Reanne."

Conversation began to flow from there. Before I knew it, Houston and Ruyter were talking fashion of all things. I couldn't care less, and neither did Boise as she soon drew my attention. "Got any scars Wa- Gwen?"

"A few, why?"

She shrugged, "The only time I've been damaged was… you know." When she got sunk went unsaid.

"Mmm right." I nodded, "Well I've got this one." I eased up my left sleeve to show the scar that circled my arm just below the elbow. "And these." This time I held up my hand so she could see the scarring around my fingers. "The rest is on my legs and torso."

"Damn." She muttered, "Hmmmm. Do guys dig scars?"

"That's what you're thinking about?"

"What?" She shrugged, "I'm gonna get married eventually."

I shrugged, "I suppose."

The seafoam haired cruiser chuckled, "Oh come on Wa- Gwen. You got a type?"

I shook my head, "I haven't exactly had time to check out boys, Boi- Bryn. There's a war on."

"What about him?" I followed her gaze to a tall man who was sitting at the bar. He looked fit, with brown hair and a handsome face. I'd be lying to myself if I didn't say I enjoyed the view.

"He's not bad…" I glanced around the room. My eyes soon landed on another man, this one blond, tall, and fairly ripped. He was hot. And that led to a whole rabbit hole of thoughts. I tore my gaze away before I could be bogged down in thoughts about my sexuality. It soon landed a bombshell of a redhead. She was gorgeous and hanging onto another man's arm. She was hot too.

Huh, guess I'm Bi now. I thought. And I had no idea how to feel about that.

"Ha, you're blushing!" Boise spoke up. My hand instinctively went to my face, and it did feel very warm. "I think you need to get laid, Gwen."

I flipped her off, "Sod off. I think the alcohol is getting to me."

"Ha, it better. I'm already drunk," the CL grinned.

I glanced back out across the pub, but this time my eyes landed on a pair of men in USN uniforms, and making their way towards us.

The others noticed too and went silent. The first of the two stepped forward. "I heard you talking. Are you ladies from England?" he asked.

Nobody spoke for a second, so I replied first. "Wales."

Repulse opened her mouth to identify herself as a Scot, but the American said, "Sorry about that. Are you whales from England?"

We all sat stunned for a second. Boise reacted first, and an angry punch knocked the sailor on his ass. The entire pub immediately went silent, all eyes on us. A second passed. Two. Then a young Aussie-he couldn't have been older than twenty-shot to his feet and decked another yank at the bar, yelling "BARFIGHT!"

The next moment the entire pub had erupted in chaos. Fists flew, and all hell broke lose. For our part, we all exchanged looks. As one we drained whatever was left in our glasses, stood up, and waded into the fight.

Now I am not often one for senseless violence, but I was built for it. And right then, I had some stress to burn off. I decked one patron that tried to take a swing at me, pulling my punch to avoid injuring him of course. Another broke a chair over my head, which I ignored and kicked him in the balls. At some point one of my fairies set my tannoy to blare Elton John's Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting, and I started laughing.

It was exhilarating. My adrenaline was up. I felt invincible. Another aussie punched my gut. I barely felt it, and flattened him. Three more jumped me. I simply tossed one over my shoulder, tripped the second, and threw the third at Repulse with a "Catch!"

I could tell the Scot's blood was up, cause she was going as hard as I was, flattening poor drunk bastards left and right. At my call she looked up, caught the flying man, and smashed him into the floor knocking him out cold.

By the time the song finished, only the six of us were still standing. Ruyter had avoided getting involved, but both the Aussie cruisers, Exeter, Houston and Repulse stood panting in the middle of a trashed pub, several dozen drunk patrons sprawled around us.

"Ha! Fuck that was fun!" Perth chuckled and turned for the door "Better get going before the coppas show up!"

---

Repulse and made our way along the nighttime streets, as Perth had instructed us. We'd stopped at a shop for a quick bathroom break, while Perth lead everyone else on towards a club where we could waste away the rest of the night. We were both drunk, but it was easy enough. But as we reached the next right, Repulse paused. She turned and headed into a side alley. "Le'ss cut the alley."

I just shrugged and followed her.

We'd just managed to get halfway through when I noticed a shoddily dressed man leaning against the brick wall on the side of the alley. As we approached he pushed off and stepped in front of us. "Hey lady. Got a light?"

We both stopped and Repulse shrugged, "Sure lad."

She was about to pull out a lighter when the man, though he couldn't have been more than twenty, pulled a switchblade. "And your wallet."

We both looked at him surprised, and then broke down into drunken giggling. He was threatening two warships, with a knife. He didn't think it was nearly so amusing. "Hey, this is serious! I've got a knife!"

Repulse just giggled again before pulling herself together. An utterly amused smirk appeared on her face, "Tha's nae a knife…" In an instant, the broadsword she normally had sheathed on the small of her back, just below her rigging, appeared. In one smooth motion, she drew it in a reverse grip, flipped it around in her hand, and held it before her. "Tha's a knife."

Before either of us knew it, a stain appeared on the poor kid's pants. He threw away the switchblade, turned, and ran.

We both stared for a moment, exchanged a look, then broke into uncontrolled laughter.

"He fucken' pissed himself!" guffawed Repulse. I joined in. To our druck selves, it was the funniest thing ever.

A few minutes later we found the club and joined the others sitting at the bar. "What took you so loooooong?" Asked Perth, slurring her words a bit.

"Mugger." Repulse replied before explaining the full story. By the time she finished, we were all laughing like idiots.

By this point, we were all thoroughly drunk. While the others began to chat again, I had a look around. It was interesting how clubs had changed since the forties. Instead of a dance floor with electronic music and flashing lights, it was a more well lit area. Off to one side was the dance floor, and a proper live band. I found myself bobbing my head to the catchy swing tune they were playing. Like the last pub it was quite busy.

As I watched couples dance I dimly became aware of someone leaning against the bar beside me. "Can I get ya something to drink sheila?"

I turned over to shoot down the aussie trying to hit on me, but found my breath hitched when I laid eyes on him. He was my height, just under six foot, and he was ripped. He had short brown hair and blue eyes on a chiseled face, and a short moustache. Moreover he wore a RAAF uniform with pilot's wings, and made it look damn good. He was hot. Like movie star hot.

Guess ladies do like a man in uniform. I couldn't help but think. Or at least this lady does.

I quickly composed myself, "If you're offering?"

He just grinned and waved over the barkeep. After we both had our drinks, he gave me what he probably figured was a charming smile, which to be fair, it was. "So what brings you to Straya? We don't get many fine British ladies like you down here."

"The war." I replied simply.

He nodded, "Me too. I just got back. Spent the last couple years flying Spitfires for the RAF."

"Oh?" I asked, thoroughly interested, "See much action?"

"Plenty." He said, "I was in the thick of it during the Battle of Britain. Shot down two Jerrys." He took another sip of his drink, "Sorry sheila, I didn't introduce myself. James Morrison. Flying Lieutenant James Morrision."

"Gwen Windsor."

"Well Miss Windsor," He said, turning the cheesy charm up to eleven, "May I have a dance?"

"Well I…" I stuttered, and glanced over at the others for an excuse, only for Repulse- who had apparently been watching the entire thing- to grin at me and flash me a thumbs up, mouthing "Go get that hunk."

Before I knew it I was on the dance floor with the handsome fighter pilot. We started to dance. A couple minutes in I couldn't help but remark, "You're quite good."

"Back at you." He smiled. As we continued dancing I couldn't help but get a better feel for him, figuratively and literally.

God he was a hunk. So when his lips met mine a few minutes later, I didn't mind in the slightest.

 

[Omogas1]

My inbox: "NOOO! You can't just dump a bunch of posts!"
LtRainbowSlash: "Haha, update go brrrr."

On a more serious note, glad to see everything caught up over here. And I eagerly await the next chapter.

 

[LtRainbowSlash]

AN: NGL, this and last chapter are the lewdest things I have ever written, which say a lot I think. Also TnaB came up with the first section and I thought it was hilarious, so credit to him. Anyway enjoy the lood cause it's all yer gettin' for the rest of the story XD
Also it's 12:35 AM my time as I'm posting this, so technically Sunday, so I'm posting it lol. Next chapter is pretty much written in my head, so here's hoping for a one week turnaround.

Chapter 26: Resupply

MARCH 12 1942
0747 HOURS

I awoke the next morning to find myself in bed with another person for the first time in a long time. Though, this was also the first time it had ever been a man.

James Morrison yawned, though with a hint of soreness. He smiled lazily at me, "'Morning, Sheila. What are you up and thinking about so early?"

"I was just...wondering if this makes me gay," I replied honestly, perhaps a little too honestly.

"I'd be personally embarrassed if you weren't happy," he said with a smile.

That had meant something different in the forties, hadn't it? I debated just for a moment whether to tell him I was actually a man disguised as a ship disguised as a woman, but neither I nor Repulse had divulged that little tidbit to anyone. Either way, no matter what happened, I was going to need to have a lengthy, deep think about my own sexuality and identity. This had all happened so suddenly. One moment I laid eyes on him, the next… I thoroughly blamed the alcohol. As drunk as I'd been, I don't think there'd be a woman in the world who wouldn't end up in my place.

He sat up and stretched. "Ah, you were like a machine. I feel like I went a few rounds with a battleship."

I let out a small snort. He had indeed.

Looking at me in the morning light coming through the window, he frowned suddenly. "What's wrong with your eyes? I didn't notice anything in the dark last night."

I could already see a few cogs turning in his brain as pieces started to fall into place, and I decided I should get ahead of it. "I didn't fully introduce myself last night." I offered a hand. "Captain Gwen Windsor."

His brow furrowed, "A women's auxiliary? Same paygrade as me then."

I shook my head, "Navy Captain. Also, ship spirit."

"...oh fuck me."

I had, but I didn't think that was the issue right then…

---

0909 HOURS

Soon after, I returned to the base. I wearily made my way towards the repair baths, keeping a sharp watch out for any of the other girls. I wanted to avoid them, if simply out of embarrassment. A cute guy had bought me a drink and I'd gone home with him within an hour. They'd tease me endlessly.

Luckily none of them seemed to be around, and before too long I managed to reach the repair bath. I slipped in the entrance, which led straight into the changing room. It didn't take me long to get into my swimsuit, and so, looking forward to relaxing in the warm bath, I exited into the bath area… Only to let out an embarrassed squawk of surprise a moment later.

Repulse was already sitting in the bath, and giving me the biggest shit eating grin I'd ever seen, and slowly clapping. "Well done lass. Well done. He was a fuckin' catch. He fuck as good as he looked?"

I blushed ruby red and stammered, scandalized. "Repuuuuulse!"

"Ha! So ye' did do it!" She chuckled, "Good on ye'! Hell knows ye' needed it!"

I just stammered incomprehensibly, covering my heated cheeks with both hands.

My best friend just chuckled again, "Yer' te' easy Wales. If it makes ye' feel any better, I'm pretty sure all th' girls picked up a man te' spend the night with. Hell, even my old arse got laid. Prolly since it don't look tha' old nowadays."

I just accepted I'd be blushing for the foreseeable future, and made my way into one of the hottub-like baths.

"So." Repulse said, after I'd gotten settled, "Ye' two gonna make a go of it?"

I shook my head, working on fighting down the heat in my cheeks. "No. We were both drunk. Besides, he's going to be training new pilots near Melbourne, while we're going to be fighting. It wouldn't work. And I sure as hell am not ready for a relationship."

"Mmmm." She hummed. We had a moment of silence. I glanced at her.

"Who did you…?"

"She glanced back at me. "What…? Oh, jus' a local lad. One nighter, same reasons as ye'."

"Mmm." I nodded. We both sat in silence again before another thought occurred to me. "Does this make us gay?"

Repulse chuckled, "Only askin' yerself now lass? I dunnae about ye' but I'm… Wha' was it called uptime again? When ye' like both?"

I snorted, "Bisexual Repulse. We're Bi."

"Aye, tha'." She nodded. "An' before I forget, Tennant wants us at th' stores after lunch. Somethin' about an experiment."

"Okay."

…

"So was his dick as big as his-"

"REPULSE!"

---

1239 HOURS

After lunch the two of us headed down to the navy storehouses at the docks. Sure enough we found Commodore Tennant waiting for us outside the gate. As soon as he spotted us a fond smile appeared on his face. "Wales. Repulse."

We both saluted him. "Afternoon, sir. What're we doin'?" Repulse asked.

"I had a thought this morning." The older officer replied. "How're your stores?"

"Abou' three quarters." Spoke Repulse. The both turned to me."

I took a quick mental inventory "Stores are fine. I've about half load in my bunkers, and my 14-inch magazines are about a quarter full."

The Commodore nodded, "And last I checked you've both been spending four hours a day at least in the mess. Correct?"

I nodded, "Aye sir." I winced, "It'll be another week or two before I'm fully loaded."

"Same." Repulse agreed.

Tennant nodded and began to lead us amongst the storehouses. "John thought the same." He said, referring to Captain Leach. "He also asked a question we're going to answer." We stopped, reaching a large door in one of the buildings. A guard posted outside gave a salute and pulled the warehouse door open just enough for us to enter.

What was inside gave both myself and Repulse pause as we saw it. "Fuckin' 'ell. Tha's a lotta shells." Repulse muttered.

There really were. Under the warm lights keeping the storehouse lit were rows upon rows of fourteen- and fifteen-inch shells. The entire building was full. "That is a lot of high explosives…" I thought out loud.

"Indeed." The commodore said. "It's all come quite some way. Originally these were all shipped to Singapore to keep you both supplied. The convoy was halfway across the Indian Ocean when the war started, so they were diverted to Ceylon. Once it became apparent we'd be here for sometime they were shipped over from there." He stopped and turned to us. "So, to save you hours of eating, they're all yours. Though, we'll have paperwork for you back at the HQ of course."

I rolled my eyes, "Wouldn't be the navy without it."

Repulse chuckled, "Aye, ye've got tha' right. Now how do I…" She walked over to the rows of fifteen-inchers, examining the shells. With a shrug she grabbed and lifted the nearly two ton shell, something a normal human would never be able to do. And in a motion both of us had done many times, pulled it behind her where it disappeared. She paused for a moment, then nodded and turned back to us.

"My fairies are working te' get it down inte' me magazines. We're in business."

"Excellent." Tenannt nodded, "Go ahead and load up. After your done we'll see about fuel as well."

With a nod we both set to work. I slowly made my way down the rows of shells, picking up and depositing each one for my fairies to load into my magazines. About a quarter of the store munitions disappeared before I felt my stores fill. It was a nice feeling, and took the edge off my constant hunger.

As I turned back to the door to see both Repulse and Tennant waiting, both occupied with papers. A quick look at the rows of fifteens showed Repulse had also made a dent, though not as much as I.

At my footsteps they both looked up. "Done?" Asked the Commodore.

I nodded, "Full up sir."

He placed his papers back in the shoulder bag he always carried nowadays. "Good. Shall we see if we can do the same with fuel?"

Once more we set off, this time down to the actual docks that lined the port. The port itself was the mouth of the Swan River, expanded and lined with docks, storehouses and cargo handling facilities. As the largest port in Western Australia, I had no doubt it saw steady traffic in peacetime. But with a war on, it was a hub of activity.

As we reached the docks I immediately made note of the large number of steel hulled American and Dutch submarines moored in threes or fours, most hugged up alongside or near Holland. Holly herself was on the dock, apparently mothering a few of the subs as we walked by. When the sub tender noticed us she gave a small wave, which I returned.

It was the sub spirits though that drew most of my attention. So most ship spirits, subs were… Unnerving to say the least. The idea of purposely sinking yourself was unfathomable to most of us surface ships. Us Brits often referred to our subs as 'Lazyboats' since not a single one of them would do something they could avoid. I'd somewhat expected the same from the Americans, but if the rumors I'd heard about American 'Sub Thives' had any basis is reality, it seemed they had Greed as their sin, rather than Sloth.

Almost made me wonder what the U-boats or Japanese subs were like. At this rate I wouldn't have been surprised if they all had a sin too (After the war I would learn of the 'Lewdmarines' and 'Böseboote', but that's for another time).

The other thing that stood out about the American subs was their appearances. They were all younger, teens at the latest, similar to the various destroyers. Their hair, eye colors and clothing were all shorts, though I could see some trends that likely marked sisters. But the universal tell was the wetsuit I could glimpse under all their different outfits, no matter if said outfit was khakis or something more unique.

I also spotted Ruyter's hull and the two fourstackers that hadn't sunk moored at the docks on the other side of the river mouth.

Soon enough we reached where the Canning was tied up. She was a small sized thousand ton bunkering tanker that served the port. At the moment she was tied up at her fueling station.

One of the crew spotted us as we came down the dock. He banged on the rail he was standing beside, "Oi! Cannie!"

In an instant the ship spirit herself teleported in. She was short, but looked somewhere around mid-twenties. "Yeah?" The brunette asked. The civilian sailor just pointed at us.

Canning wasted no time teleporting down to the dock. The moment she got a good look at us her eyes widened. "Christ yer tall! You the navy ships that I was told need a top up? Cause they didn't tell me you were capitals!" She exclaimed in an australian accent.

Repulse nodded, "Aye. Need te' ken lass."

"Mmm, fair-o. So how does this work?" She asked.

I glanced at Repulse and Tennant. Repulse glanced at the tankers hull, "Could you run a line from your other side."

"'Course."

Repulse nodded, "W-Gwen. Pop yer riggin' and pull in beside 'er." She turned back to the tanker, "An' ye' have ye' crew get a line ready."

We both nodded. Canning disappeared, and I found a ladder that went town from the dock into the water.

As always it was a wonderful feeling to summon my rigging and take to the waves, even if I was just barely maneuvering into position. It was also nice to not need a tug, instead focusing on my human form and gently skating around the side of the tanker.

I took a moment to get a feel for myself. I was watertight, and my propulsion was functioning, but there were still the aches and pains of damage, mostly through my superstructure and unarmoured top two decks.

Once I stopped beside her several crew appeared and manned a crane on her, normally used to lift the line up to reach a ship's deck. Instead they had to lower it so I could grab it with my human form. Once I had it in my hand, I momentarily stood confused, not really knowing what to do. Did I drink it? That seemed the obvious answer. At least until a few fairies appeared on my shoulders and rigging, oi-ing for me to give it to them. I shrugged and did just that.

Before I knew it the end of the fuel line had disappeared into my rigging and I felt the fairies hooking it up. I glanced back up to where Canning's crew was staring. "I'm in!"

They seemed to break from their stupor, and one of the Aussies yelled down, "How many tons you need?!"

I quickly checked my bunkers. "About eighteen-hundred and fifty two!" I shouted back.

He nodded, turned and walked away. A moment later the line jerked and I felt my bunkers begin to fill. "All good?" One of the crew yelled down. I nodded and gave a thumbs up.

The next eight minutes was just standing there as just under two thousand tons of fuel oil flowed into my bunkers. Where it all went I'd have to chalk up to good ole MSSB. In fact I couldn't help but chuckle at the fact that I was technically consuming 1800 tons of 'food' and wouldn't have to worry about anything.

Being a shipsprit really was great sometimes.

Finally, the fuel flow cut leaving my bunkers nice and full. For the first time since Java Sea, my stomach and quartermaster were happy, well supplied, and content. I quickly made my way back to the ladder, dismissing my rigging and climbing back up. Repulse, who was at the top, gave me a nod before making her own way down.

I soon stood beside the Commodore as we waited. "Bunkers full?"

I nodded.

"Good. All we need now is to get you patched up." He gestured back towards the base, "Go ahead and head back to the baths. No need to wait on Repulse."

I nodded, "Aye sir." A small smile appeared on my face and I chuckled as a fairy banged on the wall of his office and said something to me, "And my quartermaster would like me to pass on his gratitude."

He gave an amused snort of his own, "I'm sure."

With a salute, I turned and headed back to the base.

---

MARCH 20 1942
1119 HOURS

It was a week later and I had nearly had enough of the repair bath. I was alone, Repulse having been called away for the day. I was bored out of my mind, and I still had another six weeks. I was fed up, in pain, bored as hell, and very very annoyed.

I was almost happy no one was around when I finally snapped, and no one heard my very unladylike Welsh cursing of those I personally blamed for my current situation. "Uuugh. Fucking bloody godamned nip wankers. I hope your day is shit and your life is shit, and next time I see you Nagato I am going to beat seven shades of shit out of your smug nip ass. I am going to blow so many fucking holes in you, you bloody well-!"

The sound of the door to the changing room opening brought me up short. I groaned, laid back in the bath, and did my best to calm down. A moment later Boise and Houston entered the baths, both in their 40's swimsuits. Luckily most of the girls had gotten used to my own by now. The first time they'd both seen me… That had been a bit awkward. I really just needed to go buy a new one. Then I wouldn't get all the looks. Any one would do, and be far more modest than my current bikini. The only reason I hadn't was because I didn't have any time.

"Hey Wales." Boise said, the two hopping into baths beside me.

"Hello girls. In for maintenance?" I asked, the royal mask back in place.

"Pretty much." Houston nodded, "Figured y'all could use the company too."

I shrugged, "I certainly won't complain."

"Hows the hull?" Boise asked.

"Better." I replied, "They still haven't fixed my aviation, and there's still damage on my turrets, but other than that it's all upperworks and unarmoured decks. Lots of messes, quarters, offices and laundry rooms that need fixing."

Both of them nodded in understanding, and we lapsed into silence. I relaxed for a few moments, then glanced over at the two. "You know, we've served together four nearly three months now, but it just occurred to me that I still don't really know you two."

Houston seemed to think about that for a second before nodding, "Huh, that's true. I feel like we know you a bit better, since we kept badgering you about the whole future thing. Fire away."

"Well, guess I'll start with a loaded question." I said, "What are you going to do after the war?"

"Oh, that is a tough one." Boise said, putting her arms up on the edge of the pool. "I dunno. It's weird realizing I'll have to find a purpose if I don't stay in the navy. I mean what would I do?"

I gave an amused grin, "Now you know how every human ever has felt in their teen years."

"Huh. Yeah it's this overwhelming feeling huh? There's just so many options."

I nodded, "Indeed."

Houston spoke up "I'm going to try things. Lots of things. See what I like. Figure it out from there."

Boise 'hmmed' "I do want a family at some point."

I was somewhat surprised. Boise didn't strike me as the motherly type. She was just so… Tomboyish. Another thought occurred to me and my brow furrowed, "Can we even get pregnant and have children?"

Boise blinked, "Well I just assumed…"

Houston cocked her head to the side, "Even if we can, will they be human, or shipgirl? Or something in between?"

"Well shit." Boise muttered, "I'm sure as hell not gonna be the first one to find out. I'll let some other poor girl be the guinea pig. Fuuuuuck that."

"Anyway," I spoke to steer us onto a less serious topic, "What do you two do for fun?"

"Well, since I've been visible, I've found I like playing engineer." Spoke Houston, "Spent a fair few hours helping my boys work on my engines, and other mechanical bits."

"Helps when they're yours and you know everything about them." Smirked Boise.

"I mean, yeah." The texan consented, "But I've been helping out Holly and Hawk in my free time, working on the subs and destroyers. It's interesting work."

"Huh. And what about you Boise?"

"I uhhh…"

Houston cut her off with a shit eating grin, "She writes shitty smut and romance novels."

Boise flushed beet red, "Hoooustooon! They're not bad!"

"They kinda are." The heavy cruiser pointed out.

"But they're…" Boise stammered and deflated, "Ok, yeah, they're not great, but they arn't that bad. And besides, I haven't written any since I sank! I've been writing memoirs about what's happened instead."

"Oh?" I perked up, "Are you going to write a book about all this after the war?"

The CL nodded, "That's the plan."

"Huh. That's not a half bad idea…" I trailed off.

"So, does Helena still have a copy of that story you wrote where Northampton and 'Lulu are-"

"HOUSTOOOOOOON!"

 

[KongouBongo]

Really a brilliant story, the interaction with the ship girls (both sides) with a backdrop of actual WWII makes it unique. Look forward to more.

 

[LtRainbowSlash]

AN: Screw it, have a chapter a day early.

Chapter 27: Goodbyes

One of the questions I'd had from some time was why I'd been made Captain, while Repulse was the same rank. Turns out, there was a large amount of politicking going on in the background...

MARCH 27 1942
1255 HOURS

It was just after lunch when Repulse radioed for me to meet her at the HQ building. I'd already been in my whites since I'd thrown them on after I got out of the repair bath, so I headed straight there. Once I arrived I was directed into what could only be described as the war room. A table-sized map of India, the Indies and Australia took up the centre of the room, while the walls had other information on boards and further maps.

Repulse and Commodore Tannant stood on one side, while Captain Leach was on the other. They all turned to me as I entered the room. I gave Tennant a salute, as I joined them at the table. "Sir."

"Wales." He returned it, and we got down to business. "Now, as the two in command of the SNS myself and Repulse have been privy to some things you two heven't." He started, referring to me and my former captain. "However, plans have been finalised and now you both need to know."

"I was wondering what was going on." My former Captain spoke, "I've lost two entire commands now, and haven't had any orders other than 'Standby' for nearly three weeks. I thought I was going to get sacked."

Tennant's eyes widened, "God no John! You've done nothing to warrant anything like that."

"Well what's happening then?" He asked.

"The Admiralty has finally made up their minds and given us new orders." The Commodore spoke.

I perked up. "Where are we headed?" I asked.

He gave us a resigned look, "I'm headed back home. The entire Navy is activated at this point, and we've lost enough ships in the Med and Atlantic that the brass want me to organize the Special Naval Service proper. From what I've been told, they want to reorganize all SHIPs in the RN under the SNS. Administratively at least. They'll then be loaned out to other commands as needed." He sighed, "I hate to go and leave the fight here, but at least I'll make Rear Admiral."

"Oh." I muttered.
Leach looked just as disappointed as I that he wouldn't be staying with us. "And Repulse?" He asked.

Repulse gave a sad nod, "Me too. We're th' only two Capitals free o' our hulls. Boffin's want me fer a couple weeks testin' in Scapa, then I'm off to th' Med."

My stomach dropped. Repulse was leaving. She couldn't. She was my rock. She…

I sighed, resigned. "And me?"

Repulse's confident smirk returned, "Cheer up lass, ye're a valuable commodity."

I blinked. "What? Who would want me?"

She chuckled, "Come on Wales. Do I have te' spell it out? Between us an' th' Yanks we've got eight fast battleships. Ye', yer four sisters, and three yanks. And ye' are the most experienced. O' course all th' theatre commander's are gonna be scrambling over each other te' have ye'."

"It's actually been rather entertaining to be privy to all the signals being exchanged." The commodore smiled, "The amount of politicking by various commanders to get you assigned to them is rather impressive. A shame for them that none of it actually mattered."

"Who was it?" I asked.

"It was a five way tug o' war." Repulse chuckled, "First ye' had th' Admiralty, who wanted ye' to keep Tirpitz bottled up. Cunningham wanted ye' fer his fight against th' italians in th' Med. Somerville wanted ye' in Ceylon, and our own Admiral Spooner has been assigned as th' RN commander in Australia, an' also wanted to keep ye'. If it was just them, the admiralty would get their way. But then th' bloody Yanks decided they also wanted ye' fer surface actions and carrier escort."

I blinked, "The Americans? Why?"

"Once Repulse is gone, you will be the only allied fast battleship in the Pacific." Tennant explained, "Other than that, much the same reasons as the others."

Repulse nodded, "Aye. Since tha' request, th' decision went all th' way up to the PM. And he got 'em te' give us th' two North Carolinas te' bottle up Tirpitz, so yer sisters can be sent to the Med, in exchange fer ye' te' stay here."

I blinked in surprise. Two battleships for me? That didn't seem like a very fair trade.

The Commodore nodded, and turned to my former captain. "Everything has been negotiated and arranged. So Commodore Leach," He said, handing over the rank pins. Leach's eyes widened as he took them and Tennant continued, "You will be in charge of, the all SHIP, Task Force 79. Captain Windsor will be your XO and flagship. You're seconded under USN command, but you do have a veto if you believe they are sending Wales into unnecessary danger."

"I see." My former Captain examined the new pins, "Who else will we be assigned to our force?"

"Houston, Boise, an' Perth." Repulse said, "As well as th' E's an' Jup fer escort, an' four American DDs. Th' idea is that yer' all SHIPs, so ye' can be flown where yer' needed."

"Smart," I muttered.

The newly minted Commodore beside me nodded and pocketed the rank insignia, "Hopefully this means I finally have enough clearance to get a full briefing on the war situation?" I had the feeling that such information was something he'd wanted for sometime. I had to admit, knowing the wider situation before hearing about it far later in the paper or on the radio would be very welcome.

Tennant nodded and gestured to the map, "Parcel and package with being a Task Force commander." We all leaned over the map and he began explaining. "Starting in the west in Burma, Rangoon fell two weeks ago. The japanese are about here, pushing north. There's not much hope of stopping them, and they may continue straight into India. Luckily the Japanese Navy has stayed out of the Indian Ocean for the time being. Malaya and Singapore are fully under Japanese control, as is most of the DEI. There are a few Dutch holdouts on Java but…"

We all nodded. We'd been there after all.

He continued, "The Philippines have been wholly occupied since General MacArthur and his men surrendered three weeks ago. The Japanese have also landed throughout New Guinea, New Britain and the Solomons. They've taken Guam, Wake and the Gilberts."

"Christ." I muttered, "They've taken half the Pacific."

"Aye," Repulse smirked, "Not bad for a buncha 'dumb Asiatics'."

Leach pinched the bridge of his nose, "Quite. Bugger's are much more cunning than we gave them credit for…"

"How are the Japanese reacting to us?" I asked.

Tennant rubbed his chin, "The spooks haven't given me much beyond 'They know something is up'."

"Well, 'least tha' means th' Singaporeans an' their boats heaven't let slip anything to the Japs huh?"

"True." My former captain spoke up. "Though they must know something strange is happening."

Tennant glanced at Leach. "How would you react in their shoes, John?"

He thought for a second before replying, "Well, they know something fishy is happening. Capital ships vanishing into thin air. Nothing being in port in your recon photos when you know they must be there. A report by some torpedo bombers about sinking two capitals can be easily dismissed as erroneous. We've probably claimed more Germans sunk than we actually have. It happens. But two entire crews watching the enemy ships vanish as they run aground…" He took another second to think, "There's not much they can do without concret info on what they're facing. Other than ensuring overwhelming force on any further operations."

"I agree." Tennant nodded, "Your highest priority is to keep in the dark while still effectively employing the girls." He raised a finger, "Oh and I just remembered. To that end we have standing orders that have been issued from both London and Washington." He produced a letter from his pocket and began reading. "I quote: "SHIPs cannot, under any circumstances, be captured by the enemy. In such a scenario where such an occurrence is inevitable, SHIPs are to scuttle themselves or fight to the death."

I winced, "I don't know if I could take my own life..."

"Understandable." He spoke, putting away the letter again, "Luckily even without rigging you're all strong enough I can't see a scenario where that will be necessary."

We all went silent, taking in the map and all the tokens and markers on it, mulling over that last dark thought. I glanced back up at Repulse and her former Captain. "When do you leave?"

"Monday. Three days." Repulse replied.

I gave a small sad nod, "Okay." A sigh, "I hate this war."

"Don't we all."

---

2310 HOURS

It was very late by the time I'd finished up in the repair bath and finally returned to the barracks set aside for us SHIPs. They were former officers quarters, so we each got a room and an attached bathroom. I'd returned to my room and had a shower before throwing on a nightgown and heading to the common area for a quick cup of (non-caffeinated) tea to take to bed. I found the combination of a warm drink and a chapter of reading helped me sleep.

Normally no one was up at this late hour, but this time I found Repulse sitting on one of the chairs, still in her whites, and nursing a bottle of Scotch.

"Repulse?"

"Mmm?" She looked up, "Oh, evenin' Wales."

"What are you still doing up?" I asked her, making my way past to put on the kettle.

"Jus' feelin' a wee bit melancholy." She replied and took a swig.

Once I had the kettle filled and on I turned back, "About leaving?"

I saw her nod. "I feel like shite fer' leavin' ye' te' fight th' nips alone. Like I'm abandonin' ye'."

I gave a faint smile, "And here I thought I would be the one needing a talk."

She snorted, "We both do lass." She glanced over at me, "I feel like shite fer' leavin', and I ken yer' worried sick about fightin' without me. Le' alone leadin'."

I gave a sad smile and sat down to wait, "Perceptive as always my friend."

She gave a sad laugh, and downed her glass. "I never told ye' this lass, but yer' my best friend. Hell, yer' like a daughter te' me. And I love ye' like one."

My eyes widened a little at the admission. I knew she saw me somewhat that way, but I hadn't expected her to say as much. "I love you too, Repulse. Though I don't see you as a mother, sorry. More like… a treasured Aunt?"

She smiled and took another swig, "Aye, I can live with tha'. Prolly more accurate te' wha' we really are anyway. Side's, Dee's more yer mum, aye?"

It took me a second to remember that was her nickname for Iron Duke. Another fond smile crossed my face. "I suppose she is, isn't she? She certainly mothered Kay and I whenever we were in Scapa."

My battlecruiser friend nodded, "I hope she's been able te' get off her hull with all this. She deserves it."

"Me too."

At that moment the electric kettle began whistling, so I stood up to make my tea. A couple minutes later I sat back down, tea cup-though it was more of a mug really-in hand. I took a couple sips.

"I'm going to miss you, Repulse."

She sighed, "Me too, lass. Me too." A swig, "I ken yer' worried about bein' in command. Don't be. Yer' a quick learner, an' bloody smart. And ye' care fer' all th' girls. Ye'll do alright."

"But what if I-"

"An' ye' cannae do tha'. Ye' second guess yerself in a fight, and yer' fucked. Do some exercises with th' girls once yer' fixed. Get used te' command. Build some confidence. An' then go kick the Japs ass."

"Alright."

She smiled, "Yer' a good woman Wales. I'm very proud o' ye'. By th' time this war is over, ye'll see what I do. Now." She stood up, "Let's get some sleep. See ye' in the mornin' Wales."

"Goodnight Repulse." I replied, and she left.

I sat there a few minutes more, sipping tea. I knew she was right. She always was. But I just couldn't help but worry. I was going to have my friends' lives in my hands. If I made mistakes… It was a lot of pressure. But if Repulse, and Commodores William Tennant and John Leach all thought I was command material… Well they couldn't all be wrong.

I nodded to myself. I was HMS Prince of Wales. Built to fight Britain's enemies in the fiercest war ever fought. My friends, my family, and my country were relying on me.

I would do my duty.

---

MARCH 30 1942
0850 HOURS

The entire task force showed off to see Repulse off. De Ruyter and the other Dutch ships had sailed for Ceylon a week before, leaving just myself, the three cruisers, and the four destroyers. The convoy to Cape Town was just getting underway, the merchant ships and small escorts each leaving one by one and heading out to sea to form up. Commodore Tennant aboard one of course. Everyone wished Repulse well, but of course leaving me for last.

She stood before me on the dock, already clad in her blue and white dress. She gave me a smile and a hug, "You'll do alright lass. Jus' dunnae do anythin' I would, 'aight?"

"No promises."

She just smiled wider. "Fair enough."

"Pass on my regards to everyone back home would you?" I asked.

"I will. Stay safe." She glanced over at Houston, Boise and Perth, as well as the four destroyers. "That goes fer all o' ye'. An' take care o' Wales fer me."

"Don't worry Repulse." Houston smiled, "We've got her back."

"Good." Repulse nodded, "Well… It's been a pleasure servin' with all o' ye'. Good luck." With that she took hold of the dockside ladder and mader her way down. Her rigging came out, and she made steam.

And then she started singing, as a tune came loud over her Tannoy:
"We'll Meet Again~
Don't know where, don't know when~
But I know We'll Meet Again~
Some sunny day~"

I couldn't help but start singing, as did Perth and the destroyers. It was just far too appropriate.

"Keep smiling through~
Just like you always do~
'Till the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away~"

And off she went, singing all the way. I had to wipe some tears away. I wouldn't see her again for years, and I knew it, even at the time.

I found myself sitting on the dockside, even well after she'd disappeared from sight. Surprisingly all the others stayed with me. Now we all sat with our legs over the edge.

"I'll miss that crazy Scot." Muttered Houston.

"We all will." Perth replied, "She's a hell of a ship. And nothin' was ever boring with her around."

"We've still got Wales!" Jup shot in, much to our amusement.

"Damn right." Boise spoke. "You'll do alright I think."

"Thanks Boise." I said, "I'll do my best."

"Where do you think we'll be 'eaded?" Electra asked.

"Polly Pearl." Houston replied, "I've heard the brass really want some heavier escorts for the carriers." That sounded good to me. If it was in any way a palatable choice, I'd never fire my guns in anger ever again. But I also didn't want to let everyone down.

"And leave 'Straya completely undefended?" Perth butted in.

The Texan shrugged, "Maybe."

"I just want to get another fair fight with the fuckers." Boise muttered. "Last two times the deck was a bit stacked against us. I wanna see what we can really do."

"I mean, Java Sea was a fairly even fight." Jupiter pointed out, "And we did win."

Boise didn't look convinced, "I guess. We were real fuckin' unlucky though."

"I suspect we'll get our chance." I spoke up, "There's a lot of fighting left in this war. You'll get your fig-"

"Oi! What are you-!?" Electra's shout cut me off, and I turned to see an American subgirl had snuck up on us. She dashed forward, right behind Boise, and, before any of us could react, shoved her off the dock.

"SONOFABI-!" She managed to yell before she hit the water.

At the sound of running feet I spun back to see the sub running like hell, with all three E's in hot pursuit. Satisfied that she'd be caught I turned back to see Boise flailing in the water.

After five seconds I became concerned. At ten I got ready to jump in after her.

Before I could though, she popped to the surface like a cork, water sloughing off her rigging. She coughed up some water, "Motherfucking!" A cough, "Fucking subs!"

"You okay?" I yelled down.

She nodded. "Yeah. Fuck." A moment later she was climbing up the ladder. She reached the dock, and produced a towel to dry herself off. "Stupid fucking submarines."

I gave her a concerned look. "Can you not swim?"

She gave me a confused look, "Why the fuck would I be able to swim? I'm a fucking ship!"

I glanced around at the others, incredulous. "Can any of you swim?"

The other two cruisers shook their heads. "Can you?" Houston asked, and then shook her head, "Nevermind, dumb question. You did in your last life right?"

I nodded, "Alright. I'm teaching you all to swim. I'll let you know when." I stood up and stretched. "I better get back in the repair bath. I'll see you all later."

 

[Panaka]

Is the Doolittle raid still happening? Since that sets the stage for Midway.

With the loss of the troop transports and their cargo I guess the Japanese are going to be running out of steam slightly earlier. If the troops earmarked for Port Morrisby had to replace the troops lost with the transports that sank in the DEI and in Repulse and Wales' first outing there may be nothing available for that invasion. Meaning that Coral Sea won't happen.
With the Kongo's in drydock the raid in the Indian Ocean won't happen and they won't be available for Guadalcanal if that is still in the cards. The Japanese won't risk the Nagato or Yamato sisters in the confined waters around Savo Island and other battleships aren't fast enough to make the trip during darkness if Henderson is up and running.

We're pretty much off the rails at this point.

 

[force200]

I've realized that the best opportunity for turning an enemy ship with a sympathetic spirit (like e.g. Kongou) into a Shipgirl would be after s battle while she sinking. Hope that the protagonists of this story manage to figgure this out as well, as I'd love to see at least one instance of a freshly awakened axis shipgirl telling her former commanders where to shove it before defecting.

 

[IncyIncy]

turning an enemy ship with a sympathetic spirit (like e.g. Kongou) into a Shipgirl

Click to shrink...

It is better to ask permission from your commander first.
There is political problem(s) to consider, not to mention (possible) accusation of "aiding the enemy"

 

[Spherical_Light]

I've got this story bookmarked on SB, browser marked that is. The typical way I do it. I must admit I've been enjoying this story to a large extent. One point I would like to make however...

Why show and tell people the future other than the fact that it gives them hope? I'm not sure if you ever covered this or not, but I'm wondering about it. Also related is why tell people about being re-incarnated? For all you know they could suddenly turn on you with torches and pitchforks. I jest a bit of course, but you should understand what I'm getting at here. Pardon if you addressed this before on SB, I do not recall seeing anything about it.