Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to KanColle.

Prologue

Sendai kept her eyes focused on the dark ocean in front of her. Although it didn't seem like they had been detected, she couldn't be so sure that her squad hadn't set off some sort of alarm. Rarely were the Fleet Girls sent this far into Abyssal territory, but this time was a different matter.

Admiral Sakata needed the information on the numbers that had been amassed, and so Sendai's team had been sent out. Taking a quick glance over her shoulder, she made sure that the others were still following. Tenryuu, Yahagi, Murakumo and Isokaze were following closely behind her while Shioi had been left back at the base.

This wasn't a combat operation. It was quick in and out. Scope the area and then leave. One of the more common mission types that the girls were sent out on. Although they were intended to be dealing with larger threats, their admiral had a tendency to send them on recon missions. Having proven that they were a swift and silent unit, they tended to get assigned these tasks.

Taking a breath, Sendai calmed her bubbling nerves. There was no need to be getting worked up. She had done this plenty of times before; including when the squad could barely tolerate one another. They always made it out without any casualties and only minimal damage, so she didn't expect this one to be any different. Even now, her squad mates were talking to one another as they made their way forward.

"Fury Leader, what's your ETA?" a male voice crackled to life over her headset.

"We are four kilometres from our destination," Sendai answered. "Arrival should be within the next five minutes."

A confirmation was given, and the headset once again went silent. The squad's commanding officer, Kazuki Chiba, was a recent addition to their fleet; having been pulled in specifically to orchestrate these missions. And he was doing the best that he could with the resources he had been given. At least that was what she thought.

The flagship of the Fury Squad, she would never have been given this opportunity while fighting alongside her sisters and she refused to waste it. Keeping a close watch, she was certain that tonight would be another successful operation. However, it would not do to forget that they were in enemy territory. It was always possible that the Abyssal ships were also out and about.

"Sendai, I think we should slow down," Isokaze called out from the rear of the line. "My radar is picking up two Nu-class ships ten kilometres west."

"What?" Sendai yelled. "Did they just show up?"

"Yes," Isokaze replied. "Now there's a Wo-class among them and three more Nu-class."

Sendai felt panic start to rise up. They were well aware of the fact that there was a possibility of being caught in an attack, but it wasn't very high. The planned route that they were supposed to take only had them passing close enough for Isokaze's radar to get a reading on the enemy. It wasn't supposed to get them this close to danger.

"How long do we have till they reach our position?" Tenryuu asked.

"Ten minutes at most. Do you think Hamakaze will be alright if I don't make it back?" Isokaze responded.

"Shut up about your girlfriend," Tenryuu growled. "We need to prepare an offensive, right Sendai?"

Sendai tried to calm her breathing. She wasn't prepared for this. Her mission parameters didn't account for this. If Jintsuu were there, she would be more ready to adjust. Should she just give over command to Tenryuu? What should she do?

"…ordering a full retreat," her CO's voice crackled back to life through her headset. "All units return to base. You're not equipped to fight them. I'll get the admiral to send a fleet to fend them off."

But that wouldn't be quick enough, Sendai thought. What could she do to help? The night was her specialty. She couldn't just freeze up at such an important moment. This wasn't an unusual scenario. They always tended to have to skirt around Abyssal ships when they performed recon. But never was it a force of that size.

Eight ships were more than they could handle. Sendai knew that, she was certain that the others knew it as well. And they had left Shioi back at base. Without their submarine, they were definitely in more trouble. Shioi was best at striking hard before the rest of them got involved. After, she would retreat and the others would take over. But they didn't even have that option.

"I said full retreat," her CO's voice was more irritated than it had been.

Swallowing nervously, Sendai looked at her squad mates. She couldn't find her voice, her heart was pounding inside her chest fiercer than she had ever experienced. Staring out in the direction of their approaching foes, she tried to figure out what call she would make.

"…full retreat!"

Her CO was no longer calm in any fashion. He was yelling now, and Sendai finally managed to focus. She couldn't be panicking in this situation. She needed to be an example to her fellows: a leader.

"Full retreat," she said. "Tenryuu take the rear, we need you to be our defence as we leave."

"Roger," Tenryuu said, skating into position.

The others fell into line between Tenryuu and Sendai, and they were off. Although they still squabbled at base, when it came to missions they were becoming a well-oiled machine. Moving quicker than they had before, the quintet of girls was trying to put as much distance between them and the Abyssal ships as possible.

"What's the plan?" Yahagi asked from behind. "They'll catch up sooner or later."

"Just keep moving," their CO's voice cut in. "I've got Admiral Sakata sending a squad to bail you out. It looks like our 'secret operations' are going to be blown wide open tonight."

A humourless chuckle resounded through Sendai's ears as her CO continued.

"Make sure to keep each other afloat. I don't want any losses tonight."

"Aye-aye sir," the five girls said in unison.

Sendai was certain that they would be able to achieve their CO's directive. But she was still worried. If the Abyssal ships managed to get close enough, they would be put under fire by their aerial attacks. It would make the retreat more difficult, and it would force them to fight back; effectively slowing down the whole process.

Pushing the thought to the side, she decided to focus on going back the way that they had come. There was no need to focus so much on the what-ifs. Isokaze was keeping her radar going, making sure to alert the others when anything seemed to come too close.

"Shit, we've got another one approaching from the east," Tenryuu called out.

Looking in the direction that Tenryuu had indicated, Sendai felt her heart stop. A Ta-class Elite battleship was coming after them. Eyes widening, she started to breathe in and out. By the time that she was conscious of her reaction, she was hyperventilating.

They were all going to die; sunk far away from home and the rest of their friends and family. Very few prepared battleships and cruisers managed to come back from a fight with an elite Ta-class. The fact that they were only a stealth force, less heavily armed than other forces for the sake of speed, was not going to be beneficial to any conflict they would encounter.

"Remember our training. Get into defensive formation," Tenryuu called out, as Sendai struggled to regain her composure.

Continuing to panic, she tried to think about what formation the defensive one was. Pulling a blank, she decided to just move into one of the positions she could remember.

"Sendai, don't go over there," she vaguely heard someone call out. "You're too easy a target."

Before she could respond, an explosion burst the water in front of her, sending her spiraling backwards. Head smashing into the cold liquid, she felt her lungs fill as she accidentally breathed in. Pulling herself up, coughing and spluttering, she tried to find the rest of her squad. Unable to see them, she switched her attention to the Ta-class.

Watching the battleship closely, Sendai forced herself back to her feet. Mentally going over the resources she had on hand, ammunition primarily, she readied her cannon and torpedoes. She was unsure of what she was doing, but some part of her was certain that she should stand and fight. It wasn't the wisest idea, the Ta-class was definitely more powerful than she was – and better equipped. However, Sendai refused to back down.

With a fleet of ships already on their way to come and assist them, she was certain that any damage she managed to inflict would be able to help the others when they showed up. Her CO was undoubtedly relaying the information back to Admiral Sakata, and the best of the best were being prepared to head out to the aid of the others.

Sendai wasn't going to make it out of this. This she was certain of. Her fate was sealed. Taking a deep breath, finally finishing reorienting herself, Sendai stared down her foe. Vaguely aware that she still had the Wo-class and Nus approaching, she got into position. It was now or never, she would do some damage for sure.

Screaming, she raced towards the Ta-class. Raising her arm, cannons shifting to focus on her foe, Sendai fired.

End Prologue

A/N: And so here starts my first foray into the KanColle fandom. It's been a while since I posted any new stories, and with the launch of the KanColle anime I thought this would be the best time to start up a story of my own.

It's going to be a bit different than the usual takes on the franchise, and will definitely vary from the anime itself. So, I hope it turns out to be an enjoyable experience. Until next time,

Nanashi Wanderer