Hello, Trades46 back again.

I'm presently working on a VERY long & complex story based on the Kantai Collection world. However, due to the ambiguous canon nature of the source, I feel like a prologue explaining the world I will be working on & explanation of the Abyssals & Ship Girls would be better than trying to integrated it into my already long main plot.

So without further ado, here is the prologue of Kantai Collection: The Secrets from the Abyss: Origins. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: If Kantai Collection was created by me, it wouldn't be so much an RNG-dependent grind-city, instead a more priory in strategic commanding, real-time naval action and above all, no IP region-block and lottery-based account creation. Alas it is not to be, as it is the property of Kadokawa games & DMM

Prologue: The beginnings

September 22, 1941 - Maizuru Naval base, Noon 12pm

It was another fine sunny day at the naval port of Maizuru, one of the Northern naval bases of Japan. Rear-admiral Fujioka Sekimoto, the CO of CV Unryu & CA Atago looks towards the open port from his office balcony, admiring the beautiful view of the harbor.

He muses at the beautiful weather & peace that has graced the Maizuru naval base, as 2 years ago he was always on sortie against the ABDA fleet & the occasional tussle with the Russian navy. The 40-year-old rear-admiral has a rack full of medals to prove it as well. He places down his coffee on his desk as he continues to remember the not too distant past.

All has been well for the Imperial Empire as of late; they've recently been the sole victor from the great Pacific War that turned the Allied forces of USA, Great Britain & even aggression of the Soviet Federation just 5 years back from 1935~1940. However, unlike the expect result, the war ended when the American, British, Dutch & Australian forces were dealt a fatal blow after a short period in the war. Unable to repel the Imperial Naval forces, the Allies accepted a post-dam declaration & ended the Pacific War on December 8, 1940.

For the entire year of 1941, the Imperial fleet has been just tasked with simple guard duties to fulfill the needs for the now Greater East Asia Empire. With the Allies vanquished and the Southern Asia & Australia conquered, there was little resistance left in the military front. New trading routes & military vessels are now requisitioned for supply duties for the nation.

Nevertheless, Fujioka's thoughts are broken off as his phone on his desk begins to ring.

"Admiral, the supply convoy is sighted at the harbor entrance" calls the lookouts. "It looks like there has been some incident sir: the Momi-class destroyer...it's the Sumire, sir. She's smoking really badly."

"Thank-you, I'll be down to the main docks in 5 minutes." Putting the phone down & taking his coat, the rear-admiral leaves his office as one of the guard calls the car for him to get to the ports.

The port workers are quickly running about, first securing the 4 AK merchant transport vessels carrying ton after ton of steel, crude oil, bauxite & other precious minerals from the now conquered lands of the Empire. The 3 escorting destroyers, 2 of the Minekaze-class, the Hokaze & Shimakaze* are then directed and tug to their docks. However, the last ship & the oldest of the escorts is the flagship, Momi-class Sumire, with her hull raked with bullet holes of intermediate caliber, broken portholes & a main mast that is barely attached to the main superstructure, handing on by an over-stressed wire. The crew of the Sumire, some of them injured is escorted off the ship and Sumire's captain steps on the pier, turning around and facing admiral Fujioka.

"Well, it looks like you got tied up in something nasty" Fujioka starts, staring at the damages on the Sumire. "Last time I seen a ship this battered up was the time when I was finished dealing with the Aussie CA HMS Perth."

"Sorry for the damages admiral. Unfortunately we've run into a bit of trouble just before we turned around the Chinese territory..." a feminine voice stats, matter of factly. "There was an enemy ship there, looked like an American 4 piper destroyer. He was going after the AK convoys, so I had Hokaze & Shimakaze keep the front vanguard while I..."

Fujioka chuckles, interrupting the captain of Sumire. "Asuka, Asuka, Asuka. Why is it always with you, that you have to make it sound like it's your responsibility to save everyone and completely forget yourself?"

The young female captain pouts, "Admiral Sekimoto! You're doing THAT again! I told you to stop treating me like a 5-year-old girl who has misbehaved on the playground! I messed up! I should have covered the rear of the AKs while they're loading up and yet I didn't notice him until he started firing!"

Fujioka however muses, as the CO of Shimakaze comes up and whispers something in his year. The admiral nods then shakes his head; Asuka knows that the other captain HAD to bring "that" up.

"Tell me, Lt. Commander Shiba, did you, or did you not, blatantly steer the Sumire into the line-of-fire between the enemy & the AK Miharu Maru when he was firing?"

"...But he was..."

"Answer my question Lt. Commander Asuka Shiba."

"...Yes sir. I did."

Fujioka shakes his head again. "Lt. Commander, meet me in my office in the afternoon. I'll continue my report & discussion there."

Asuka Shiba, the 18-year-old Lt. Commander of Maizuru, cringes. She is not having a good day at all.

Same day, 5:30pm

After going back to her stateroom to change & freshen up, Asuka knocks at the door of rear-admiral Sekimoto. "Come in", he answers.

Asuka steps into the room, giving a salute to Fujioka, whom was standing up beside his chair. "Admiral Sekimoto, I..." she begins.

"You know you don't have to call me that in private, right Asuka?" Fujioka casually states.

"Well...I just feel weird calling you 'teacher' in front of the crew & dockyard workers." Asuka fidgets.

"But you do remember Asuka, that you came right from the Imperial naval academy to my front door correct? You made a bit of stir among the Imperial naval HQ then, being the first ever Imperial female officer of the navy. That was already 2 years ago."

"Err, admir...Fujioka-sensei. Are you just going to continue reminiscing about the past, or can we get to today's convoy incident?"

"Even your personality is unique. Always going on about work, work & work. Asuka, I truly admire your working ethic, I'm sure you know by now that we're at peace..."

"Please, Fujioka-sensei, enough with the jokes!" Asuka states firmly, cutting Fujioka off. While she knows Fujioka isn't a person that's very serious when dealing with her, the rear-admiral's tendency to go wandering off is something she has a limit to.

"OK, OK, don't be so mad." Fujioka sits back down, leaning back on his chair. "However, Asuka, you already know what I'm about to say next, do you?"

"...Something along the lines of, 'your life as an officer is more important than some civil cargo' or 'don't put yourself before the equipment you're using'. Something like that...right?" Asuka mutters, wondering if she pushed too far.

Fujioka slowly leans forward, his voice now becoming more serious. "Listen Asuka. I may sound like some 60-year-old grandfather for repeating this again & again. Yes, I'm aware of the stragglers & the odd skirmishes of American ships who refuse to surrender like their country did, but it's been a year since we won the war."

Fujioka points towards the picture in his office. "See that picture? It's the famous Battle of Java, where we destroyed the ABDA fleet & then later the American fleet at Midway Islands. Not a couple tonne of steel, gallons of oil or cargos of bauxite did battle. We, as the people of the Japanese Empire accomplished this."

Asuka blinks twice; surprised at how much farther back her superior/teacher is going this time around vs. the previous 2 times she did something similar.

Fujioka took a breather and continues. "Look, Asuka. I know what you're capable of. You're the 3rd highest scoring trainee from the Naval academy, even beating out the son of Genji Takeuchi, the Vice-Admiral of Sasebo. I also know you work yourself way too hard, and always putting yourself at risk to help the others. Yes, I know that the Imperial naval command is very against the idea of a female commanding officer, but even if you put your life on the line, there should be a limit of what you are doing that for."

Fujioka stops to regain his composure, and then takes a deep breath. Asuka shuffles uncomfortably, waiting for a moment to see if Fujioka to finish and get into the main point; her punishment for the near destruction of an Imperial naval vessel.

"That's all I have to say. You can go now, Asuka."

She quietly asks "Sekimoto-san, you aren't going to punish me for wrecking the Sumire?"

Fujioka leans back again, now in speaking in a more relax tone, "Well, according to the captain of Shimakaze, even though Sumire was moderately damaged you kept going at that 4 piper until he ran away correct? While I'm not too fond of you risking yourself & the crew of Sumire in that battle, the CO of Shimakaze & the AK convoy captains are truly grateful of your courage. Even the Sumire's XO came up earlier to say he & the crew was sorry about treating you like a little girl during the mission. Nothing but praises all around & I bet even though the Imperial HQ won't like the news of that standout Ms. Lt. Commander, it'll be good for your future."

Fujioka stands up and, to the surprise of Asuka, takes off her hat and proceeds to pat her on her head. Asuka suddenly feels small & timid. Fujioka continues his speech.

"You're a good girl Asuka. You're hardworking, diligent, courageous & bright. I don't want to lose a great pupil like you in these times of peace & prosperity. The traditionalist admirals back at HQ might not like you because of your gender, but time & time again you've proven yourself as an invaluable asset to the Imperial fleet. Surely, sometime in the future, great things would await you."

Fujioka looks down at the teenage commander, whose cheeks are now very red. Fujioka chuckles and playfully adds, "Plus, you have no idea about how many other officers & sailors talk behind your back about how painfully cute the Lt. Commander is when she is blushing & running around like a little kitty."

Asuka, pushed to the very limit, very embarrassingly cries out "PARDON MY INTRUSION!" and then immediately darts out of the room. Fujioka looks out of his office to see the crimson red teenage Lt. commander run over 2 guardsman on patrol, bending over to apologize while trying to cover her face & disappears behind the stairway.

Fujioka smiles & let out a slight chuckle. He then turns around out at the now setting sun, hoping things will go well for him & his cute little pupil, first an Ensign then Lt. Commander in the future.

* The Shimakaze here ISN'T the rabbit earred, thong wearing, Renshouhou toting Ship Girl we all know and love, but actually an older vessel belonging to the older Minekaze-class destroyer of the Japanese navy made much before the speed rocket Shimakaze was even built.

Here's chapter 1 of the prologue. I expect it to be of 4~5 chapters. Looking for reviews & critiques.

More to come after I get past University midterms & assignments.

Thank-you for your time.