After turning the keys to his car into the position to disable the engine, Jack sat back for a moment, letting the rain patter against the windscreen as he sat in near-complete darkness of the nighttime car. His face was no longer illuminated by the lights of the dashboard, only partially lit by the warped orange glow of streetlights at the entrance to the Naval District ahead. In the seats behind him, there were the parts of his rig, all placed in a navy blue gym bag: Primarily, his eight inch guns, propulsion system, and bits of hull.
Next to him was Charlie. He didn't look too enthusiastic either. He sat back in a similar way. His rig was also on the seat behind, stored in a large orange tool bag. In the silence, Charlie leaned forward, and removed a cigarette from the packet sat on the dashboard. He placed it in his mouth, and after a few moments of fiddling with his lighter, the smell of tobacco in their Ford Falcon XB became more apparent. Jack didn't even raise a brow: Instead, he kept his Gosling-like gaze straight ahead at the dark, rainy street in front of the Naval District.
After a brief, barely audible crackle as he inhaled his cigarette, then an exhale, Charlie cleared his throat. "Do we really have to be here?" he asked. Jack didn't even nod, keeping his hands firmly in his coat pockets.
"Mm-hmm."
"Not too great, if you ask me. Just some shitty Naval District in some dullard country."
"I suppose you could say that."
"I just don't get it, y'know?" Charlie sighed, putting his feet onto the dashboard and reclining his seat slightly, folding his left arm under his right to support his cigarette hand. "Why send us all the way out here? Last I heard, Japan was doing fine with dealing with Abyssals. Well, until they said they wanted help a few weeks ago."
"Which is why we're here. To help." Charlie just scoffed at his friend's quietness.
"I don't get why you're like this, either. Every time we come to a new place like this, you do this."
"Because every time we've come to a place like this, we lost someone."
Charlie paused, and turned to face the front again, sighing.
"This used to be a full battlegroup. There's me, and there's you. There used to be the two of us, plus Amber, and James. Those two got sent away to other units, and considering how well they interact with new ships, they probably ended up decommissioned. We, on the other hand, have been lucky to survive until we were no longer needed in England." Jack explained, Charlie simply sighing and shaking his head as he looked out the window. "And it's important to remember that by today's standards, we're basically redundant. We still have to strap into our rigs by hand, and our 'cannons' are just modified rifles and pistols."
"Our shipyard didn't have the equipment to produce rigs like the ones everyone else uses," Charlie retorted. "And think about it: We have bayonets. Those other fleet kiddies don't get given that shit. Plus, we get pistols and rifles that shoot artillery shells, and we can beat enemies to death with them if they get too close. Those newer rigs come with guns built in that they can't use as weapons. You really saying we're redundant in spite of our...uh, 'design features'?"
"The fact we can smash teeth in with or guns isn't a design feature. By that logic, you could say a rolling pin is designed for domestic abuse, or that a car is designed for running over pedestrians. It's just something you can do with it, and it's not necessarily recommended." Chaz let out a puff of smoke and rubbed his forehead.
"Suit yourself. I personally like the skullcrusher grip on my Webley. Adds a bit more crak, you know?"
"I know. It's actually pretty funny. That's still not to say that we're up to date, just because we can violently attack an opponent with the stock of an Enfield. Me, you, Joe, and David have been the only ships in recent years to have non-rig-based handheld weaponry. Good for refitting, since they can just give us whatever, but not good for tactical use. They can be knocked out of our hands."
"Good for style, though. Plus, I hear that the US Navy still deploys some of their lads with guns like ours. What is it they use? Colt nineteen-elevens, switched from point forty five to four-and-a-half inch cannon shells and fires at the speed of a forty-five semi-auto pistol?"
"And will that do anything to a Wo-class carrier?" Silence reigned in the car again. Charlie puffed his cigarette briefly, frowning. "I'd be surprised if it's even worth fitting bayonets to our rifles anymore. These Abyssals have been getting tougher recently."
"You don't know that. We drove here from Plymouth. Through England, over the Channel, and through Europe and Russia. Then we passed through China, and took a ferry to Japan. All in all, about a month of driving, mixed with...what, a day of being on the water? Slightly less?"
"I read the news when we stopped for fuel, Charlie. Countries were winning left and right. We're just being sent to this District because every other fleeter in the world is, too."
"And that means you just don't like being around people." Jack paused, still staring ahead.
"Basically. Hit the nail on the head, Chaz." 'Chaz' groaned, and reclined into his seat. He only really called him by the name Charlie when they argued.
"Lovely. Ray of sunshine, you are." Jack slowly turned his head to look at Chaz, a bored expression on his face.
"I'm gonna go get the gates opened." Without another word, Jack undid his seatbelt, and took a cigarette for himself from the packet. Withdrawing his own lighter, he set his tobacco fix smoking, and cast a glance to Chaz. "You coming along?" His fleetmate dismissed him with a hand and withdrew his mobile phone.
"Nah. Gonna give that German battleship a call."
"What? You got a Nazi's number? Was it that Bismarck bitch?"
"Yeah. She's everything Hitler loved, and reincarnated as a smoking hot German girl. Shame you're racist and don't like to get involved in other cultures."
"No, I just don't fraternize with pieces of shit born of a military that attacked Britain ," Jack snapped, shaking his head and opening the car door. Upon stepping out, he was greeted by rather rough winds and damned-near torrential rainfall. Shielding his face from the rain, he lifted his hood up, and shut his door, before moving to the back door to retrieve his rig bag. Slinging it over his back, he shut the door of the car, checked both ways, and crossed over the street to the brick archway with the gate.
Under an individual lamp, there was a small wooden shelter built into the brick wall, with an intercom buzzer built into it. Jack checked his watch. "Ten o'clock sharp," he murmured, stepping under the shelter and lowering his jacket's hood. "Perfect timing." After a hesitation, Jack pressed the silver button beneath the speaker for a second, released it, and waited. It took a moment, but finally, the speaker crackled into life.
"Who is this? It's ten o' clock in the evening!" snapped a fierce woman's voice. Jack narrowed his eyes, and pressed the buzzer again.
"This is Jack London, I'm here on orders of the UN. Transferring from Plymouth Naval Base along with Charlie Sussex." After a pause, during which he could hear pages turning, the woman coughed.
"Ah. I see. Forgive me for the rudeness. Certainly, enter. Make your way up to the Admiral's office, so we can talk further." Jack quickly pushed the button again.
"Appreciated. Oh, we do have a car. Is there somewhere we'll be able to park it?" Another pause.
"I'd...suggest parking in the far right corner of the main square. We will find somewhere better for it tomorrow."
"Alright, cheers, lass. Speak to you in a moment." The second Jack let go of the intercom, he heard the gates begin grinding themselves open to his right. Obviously, nobody really entered the district. Everyone must have lived on site, day in, day out. Not like Plymouth, where they'd all head out to the town for a night out on weekends. Nevertheless, that wasn't his concern as he hopped back into the Falcon and turned it on, steering carefully through the gates.
"So, we got in?" Chaz asked, stubbing his cigarette on the dash. Jack nodded.
"No shit..." he murmured, glancing about to ensure he wasn't going to hit anything. "Woman answered. Thought it was a male Admiral here." Chsz shrugged, idly gazing out the window with his feet still on the dash and his arms folded.
"Maybe it's just someone answering in his place. Probably his Secretary or something."
"Secretary Ship, now I think back. Sounded pretty pissed off over nothing."
"Ah, right. Anyway, where're we parking?"
"Main square. Far right corner."
"Oh, fun. We get to drag our rig bags all the way to the Admiral's office."
"You don't like walking?"
"You've known me since we were commissioned, Jack," Chaz retorted. "Course I don't fucking like walking. Especially not with rigs."
"Then be glad our rigs don't weigh much."
"You're just making smug comments now that we're in a new base, aren't you?"
"Well, get used to it, bitch."
Much cursing and marching through rain later...
The duo finally managed to reach the Admiral's office, but upon arrival, were instead greeted by the sight of someone they hadn't expected to see. Standing beside an empty mahogany desk was a black-haired woman with red eyes, shapely figure, and rather stern expression. She had her hands behind her back, chest puffed out, and was looking at the two men immediately upon their arrival. Instantly, Jack dropped his bag, and stood fully at attention, breaking out a salute. "Secretary Ship Nagato! Apologies for intruding, ma'am!" he said quickly, staring ahead. Chaz stood with his right hand still in his pocket, eyeing her up cautiously.
"You're the Secretary Ship, here?" he asked bluntly. "No offense, but I expected a bloke." The woman frowned at him, folding her arms. Jack lowered his salute, but still stood at attention. After a moment, Nagato sighed, and looked to Jack.
"...for goodness sake, at ease, you look like you're about to burst a vein." Hesitantly, Jack stopped standing rigid, and stood with his hands behind his back instead, legs spaced apart. He raised a hand. "Yes?" Nagato sighed.
"Do I have permission to slap my fleetmate for his disrespect?" Jack asked, prompting Chaz to shoot a glare down towards his companion. There was definitely a height difference between the two. Nagato frowned.
"I'd prefer keeping in-house violence to a minimum. It is also understandable that members of other Navies might not recognise me." She began to pace in front of the two soaking wet men, hands placed behind her back. "My name is Secretary Ship Nagato. You're welcome to refer to me as Miss Nagato. I aid the Admiral in carrying out his operations from this Naval District." After a pause, she looked at Jack and Chaz with her eerily crimson eyes, looking quite uncertain. "He never mentioned we were getting male transfers in the upcoming transitions."
"Apparently Japan recently sent out a message globally mentioning that you still suffer from Abyssal attacks," Jack replied formally, "We were sent from Plymouth Naval Base to aid in replenishing the ships that were lost." Nagato raised her head in understanding.
"Of course...however, the upcoming transition requested heavy, modern ordnance. I do not understand why the Admiral would request fleet boys."
"Well, not like you're going to be disappointed. Every naval base in the world is sending their fleet boys and fleet girls. This place'll be bustling soon."
"It already is," Nagato replied firmly, "Yesterday alone, we took in several dozen German fleet girls, as well as most of America's fleet that they aren't keeping for display purposes."
"So why's it a big deal that two men have appeared, ma'am? I thought you would have already had a significant number of early-model fleeters arriving."
"And I thought the fleet boys were all removed from active service when fleet girls were created."
"Well, it turns out that the government wanted us for general use up and down the country. Dealing with illegal immigration and such like. Also that one time that some arsehole on a dinghy started threatening to hijack the Isle of Wight ferry, you remember that, Chaz?"
"Yeah, I remember that," Chaz nodded, hands in his pockets. "That was fun. We got to turn him into a big cloud of smoke."
"Hmm." There was a pause as Nagato assessed the two, walking around them. She was pretty goddamn tall. Easily six foot four. Chaz could actually look her in the eyes without having to look down. She stood in front of them, and locked eyes with Jack, almost glaring. "Tell me, Mr...London, was it?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good. Then tell me, Mr. London: With all the ships they send, why is it they bother to send two ships that are, from my understanding, outmoded? Rather than send someone more impressive, like Miss Belfast?" Chaz was about to step forward, but Jack just held him back slightly.
"I wasn't aware you knew about us, ma'am," he responded politely. "And Miss Belfast has served in our Navy for several years. I can only assume the government is keeping her for morale reasons, and because tourists like poking her."
"She does have significant tourism appeal..." Nagato mused, thumbing at her chin. Chaz raised a finger.
He began to speak, but was swiftly interrupted. "And stonking great ti-"
"Though, I assure you, if there is a male ship on this planet, I know of them. You two were created in Plymouth, correct? A facility which used original smithing techniques to produce rigs?"
"Yeah. What of it?" Chaz snapped.
Nagato smirked, and sat on the desk, crossing her legs and placing her chin onto her knuckles in a very assessing way. "Well, I was merely pointing out that by Japanese fleet girl standards, you two boys are...how shall I put this...antiques."
"And respectfully, I'd like to point out that by British Navy standards, and our standards, you fleet girls are a bunch of bloody pansies! Getting all your fancy accommodation and all that!" Chaz cut in. Jack firmly nodded in agreement.
"You modern fleet girls are lucky to have such nice equipment!" he barked, jabbing a finger at Nagato. She simply raised a brow with an unamused expression on her face. "Back in our day, we had to make do with what they issued! We didn't have any pop-up targets or fancy carrier ranges! We had sticks and a rock! Two sticks and a rock! And we had to share the rock! That was our training! What you have done is sissified an entire fleet of battleships by giving them comfortable dwellings that don't catch on fire for no discernable reason, and food that does not fight back whilst you try to eat it!"
"And most of all, we knew what we were fighting for!" he continued, making aggressive hand gestures to emphasize. Chaz shed a single tear, stood at attention, and placed his hand over his heart whilst Jack spoke, staring dead ahead. Nagato began frantically looking around for the source of the patriotic English music, and who the hell it was who brought a Union Jack flag into the room and was waving it behind Jack as he spoke. "We fought for Queen and country! There were no shipping lanes, there was no media image! We were men with big guns that blew things up, and by God, we did a damn fine job of blowing things up! We knew the risks, and if we went down, we went down fighting! And when one of us went down, the rest of us would blow up even more things in their memory! It was what we were trained to do, and what we will do for the rest of our existences as warriors! As fleet boys! As the fleet boys of the Royal British Navy!"
There was silence. The music stopped, and the flag disappeared. Chaz broke into a salute, and Jack pumped his fist with a 'Grrrr!' that usually accompanied a gruff Drill Sergeant praising his men. Nagato looked him in the eyes, once again wearing her unamused expression.
"It's quarter to eleven at night. I would keep it down, if I were you."
"Sorry." Jack said in an oddly proud way. Silence reigned again, and Chaz slowly faded out from the chorus of God Save the Queen. "So...what do we do now, ma'am?"
"I believe it would be best for you two to get to your assigned dormitory. It's somewhere in the new section of the district that was constructed for the arrival of the international fleets." Chaz frowned.
"Could you be more specific?"
Nagato simply shrugged.
"It's Mutsu's job to deal with the new arrivals. She's been pretty busy lately, considering the international fleet girl reserves being moved over to this one base. She said she must have dealt with at least seventy new arrivals yesterday." Jack rolled his wrist slightly, imagining the paperwork and wincing slightly.
"So...should we just sleep in our car and return tomorrow?" he asked. Nagato thought for a moment, and nodded.
"That seems to be the best course of action. Apologies for any inconvenience."
"No problem, we're used to sleeping in it anyway," Chaz replied.
"Alright. I might also request that you do not return to this room tomorrow. I will be in the war room all day with Mutsu, so you will likely find me there. Are we clear?" Jack and Chaz nodded, stood to attention, and saluted.
"Yes ma'am!"
With that, the two turned, marched the three paces for a proper 'falling out', then walked normally and collected their bags from the floor. Following this, they made their way out of the Admiralty offices and down onto the main square to return to the car. On their way over, they could see another group of at least thirteen girls with bags walking to the Admiral's office. Chaz rubbed at his head. "She wasn't sodding joking that a lot of fleeters were arriving. This really is an international base now." Jack snorted.
"Who knows, maybe that fucking Nazi lass'll be here."
"Fuck you."