The Salty Seas :
…
Prologue
...
The Raid
…
"It's happening again..."
Flames rising here and there, sailors scrambled for their life, ruins everywhere. The Shipgirls have fallen. The entire base was shaking at its core in the hellfire of bombing and shelling. This place was just going to fall just like Okinawa for Rear-Admiral Shay Maccor hasfailed as a Commander once again.
Then again, all of his future was gone when he punched Tanami in the face. Intentionally thrown to a frontier base filled with the weakest and underequipped Shipgirls at his command, with an no-retreat order. It would already expected that no one will come to save his arse when the Abyssals come.
Running through the smokescreen and a arm to cover his nose while trying to distract the screams and noises from the battlefield. Another clutching the wound he got from a concussion from a Abyssal Bomb detonated right above his roof. He struggled forward, physically and mentally.
He flashbacked to Okinawa, it was the same scene, Kaga throwing herself into fire to save his ass. Southern War Princess's smug disgusting smile as she ended her life. And he let that repeat again. But, he not gonna let that happen to Akagi as well.
Shay continued running , with both of he hands pushing a fallen locker that blocked his way, along with some other debris and fallen furniture, revealing a radio equipment placed on a wooden table. Pressing some buttons hastingly, he slammed the phone to his lips and breathed heavily to it, waiting for response.
Beep, the line was through! He can't help but to smile in desperation.
"Zzz...Admiral-san!... I can't hold on anymore! T…They are...ZzzZ … Storming our formations!" Akagi cried from the other side of the line, static and muffle sound of explosions and war accompanied her voice.
"Then don't."
"Admiral-san?"
"Akagi, I order you take the remainder of our fleet and retreat inward, keep everyone alive."
"zZZzz…But Admiral ! … As your Secretary Ship, it is our D…ZzzZ…D..Duty to keep you safe, do not fret, we will be coming to evacuate you soon!"
"This is an order Akagi!" Shay screamed , his voice cracked. Silence can be heard from the other end of the line.
Calming down , Shay sighed and continued.
"Look Secretary Ship Akagi, your sister had already had already die for me so..., I can't let her see your ugly face so soon after her departure. This battle is rigged to fail from the start just to see me die , no reinforcements will be arriving soon. Retreating is the only rational choice we have now. We still have a war to be fought."
"Admiral…"
" So Akagi, you must continue fighting and survive this battle. Unlike me, your army, your family has not abandoned you yet, so just run. Because I swear, if you disobey this order and became a ghost, I swear I will go to the afterlife myself and court-martial you as a spirit."
With a painful pause, a soft "Hai" can be heard, and the line was cut.
Shay chuckled painfully, as he let the phone drop onto the table as he fell on his knees, all burned around him while the smoke converged and escaped through the gaping hole upward. It's time to accept his fate, at least only he didn't have to share with the others. That thought was enough to put a satisfied smile to his face.
He took out a pistol out of his belt and pointed the barrel to his forehead, looking deep within the all-consuming abyss inside the barrel, he wrapped a finger over the trigger. Then he stopped.
A soft beeping distracted his attention to the green monitor next to the mic, and he saw the friendly green spots representing the Akagi and her Shipgirls exiting out of the rim of the radar.
So she have obeyed her orders, as expected from the obedience programmed into a Shipgirl. Shay smirked as he sat and laid his back on the wall. Disregarding the fact that the radar also showed the red spots representing the Abyssals, already closing up on him.
It doesn't matter anymore, he cocked the hammer of his pistol.
"Clank" , someone kicked a brick...
Then, instinctively he pointed his weapon pointed his weapon at the doorway. There she stood, White hair, inhuman pale skin , and black armour and weaponry. Two glowing blue eyes glared into his soul. A black Katana strapped to her belt.
"And here I was waiting for you to end yourself." The Abyssal said bored, crossing her arms and lying against the doorframe.
Shay said nothing, but continue to study the girl, pistol still trained on her. If his going die anyway, might as well die in a last stand. However, something feels off. Fighting against many Abyssals, from the I-class, to humanoids like the Wo-class , Ta-Class … She doesn't seem to resemble any of those types. A Princess or Demon maybe? No, she lacks that imposing aura that the Abyssal of the top hierarchy have. Then he eyed a scratch mark on her leg.
No black Abyssal blood leaking out it, nor was the black was seen, on its place however, was the warm pinkish ivory natural shade of human skin. It was as if white paint was crudely painted over it. Which means…
"You`re a Shipgirl, disguised as a Abyssal."
"Wow, you're actually the first who see past my disguise. What a genius you are." She said with sarcasm, rolling her eyes. Walking to a specific Terminal that survived the crash and plugged a USB to it. Pressing some buttons, a download bar flashed on the screen.
"What are you doing?"
"Work," The "Abyssal" said bluntly, not bothering to give eye contact to the fallen Admiral.
An bomb dropped nearby and the whole base shook and debris fell, causing Shay to cover his ringing ears. Yet, she still stared at the download screen with bored eyes, unfazed from the shock. As if her being in a Guardian Office in flames was just another day at the office.
"Since you are already a goner, tell me, usually when there wasn't a Secretary Ship or a Shipgirl guarding the doorway of a burning base, I expect an empty command room without it's fleeing Admiral. Yet even after I saw the Helicopters flying, even after the everybody supposedly vacant the place. You are here. Why?" She asked
"I ordered them to retreat with my Secretary Ship."
The "Abyssal" widened her eyes as she finally gave eye contact.
"I expected you demand rescue the moment you laid eyes on a Shipgirl, much less thought you will order a full on retreat. Thought you viewed us as machines of war solely. Tools for you men in the brass to cover your backs."
"What?! Those girls, are girls, they are never machines, they are never tools contrary to what most of the damn brass think, they are just like us, people with their own rights! And for those blasphemy, I am a goner. Assigned to a frontier base with "No Retreat Order" alongside with a fleet designed to be sunk . I rather let myself be the only goner than let all of them to sink with me. You should go too, if not I expect Southern War Princess be knocking our … knocked over door now."
She stared stunned at Shay, as if she was entranced by him. Soon she break eye-contact and looked down in guilt.
"The Southern War Princess ain't coming here," She said simply.
Shay raised an eyebrow, the Abyssals in the South always have the Southern War to lead them in sorties. He know this clearly, even surviving one sortie against her once, the one that broke him and his career. And if he know one thing about Abyssals, they rarely break pattern. Then why break now?! This however also make Shay clench his fist, if given a proper fleet they could easily repel this raid. Those bastards let another base burn! How many lives , both Shipgirls and humans must they sacrifice to sate their ego when they can be traded for victory instead! But first, one recurring question still bothers him.
"Why?"
"She was uhh… feeling how do I put this, unwell heh heh. So the Abyss high command have to improvise a bit. So I was surprised how easy this base fell, but then again from what I heard from you, Admiral …?"
"Shay, Shay Maccor."
" ...Shay-san, is that this was already set up to fail. It's no surprise that this place will be razed in flames with a few casualties in check. The Guardian Offices isn't the kindest place in planet Earth, I understand this most."
She said, unplugging the USB, before smashing her fist through the screen with genetically enhanced strength of Shipgirl. Covering all tracks from earlier.
"How do you, a Shipgirl know all this, all of this should be classified. And what is in that USB, and who are you in the first place?"
"My name is Iwaki.A , that's all you need to know. If you want to know more and most importantly not dying," She reached out a hand. "Then come with me."
Shay looked at Iwaki's outstretched hand with skepticism and hesitation, looking at it being gloved in black Abyssal-ish leather. Then he looked at the Shipgirl dressed in Abyssal skin.
"This is your only chance to see Akagi-san, don't blow it Shay. I know how it feels for a Shipgirl whom lose her Admiral, then it's not hard to understand how Akagi will feel as a Secretary Ship. And I guessing from that photo over there, I think you two are pretty close." Iwaki looked at the framed photograph put on the table of radio equipment. Of Shay with Kaga and Akagi.
Grunting , Shay took the hand and rise up. Curiosity, thoughts of Akagi had overweight he distrust of this abnormal Shipgirl, furthermore some exploring was definitely more worth it than eating a bullet.
"Good, now put your hands behind your back and pretend to be my prisoner while I escort you to the rendezvous point. Keep your head eyed to the ground and don't talk."
Shay pursed his lips.
"Aye, but first."
He took the photograph out of the frame and hastily folded it and stuff it inside his breast pocket, before nodding to Iwaki.
Together, the two walked out of the command room, stolling on rumbles, fire and bloodstains, once outside, passing mutilated corpses of unlucky Sailors and Staff. Shay's stomach churned as he moved along, soon once at the harbor he saw the Abyssals... a few Ri-classes and Wo-classes, some lining up the surviving Sailors who begged for mercy but got their face caved in by the inhuman strengths of the Abyssal's boots. While the rest of the captives were lined up to enter the gaping Jaws of the Wa-Class Transport Ships.
"Where are they going." Shay can't help but to ask, softly.
"All I know was that they will be Shipped away to become the Battleship Princess and her Lackeys' playthings, probably for some sick twisted experiments or sadistic torture just so to prove that they are the evil incarnate... I wonder if they ever got tired of being evil for the sake of being evil. Heh, I know many amongst them did."
Shay darted his eyes at Iwaki, but head still remaining low, before being dragged to a sudden stop by her as his eyes met the black boots and leotard of a Wo-Class.
" ...Where...are...you bringing the Prisoner ...t...to?" The Wo-class aircraft carrier hollowly asked in stutters, icy cold eyes stared into that of Iwaki's.
"This one is a special one, the Southern War Princess had order me to bring specifically to a rendezvous spot. Now if you don't mind I must continue with my mission." Iwaki responded in a monotone tone mimicking her Abyssal Counterpart.
The Wo-Class said nothing but stare robotically at the duo. A cold wind blew her ghastly white hair a bit as she stood still as a statue with her black cane, her slit sharp eyes cold and dull. Shay sweated heavily, thinking that their ruse has been seen through. He closed his eyes and bit his lips.
"U...Under...derstood." The Wo-Class answered as she walked away. Her cape blowing behind her back as left the duo.
Shay sighed in relief.
"Heh, Wo-classes, ain't so good with speech or expression. They should attend more talks or have some speech lesson to help them out but aye, knowing one myself even such help wouldn't help much ." Iwaki commented as she pushed Shay into a bush.
Now they were in the forested area of their island base. With nature covering their tracks, they continued their path. But it doesn't help that their path had become ominous and darken. Soon they marched into a clearing. A snapping of a twig alerted the duo's attention as they turned the direction of the sound, Iwaki immediately summoned her cannons and rig to where two golden shining eyes darted at them.
"Relax Sister, Relax lah Sister, it's me lah! So what's the catch?"
A Shipgirl, two heads shorter than the six feet tall Shay, dressed up as a Abyssal So-Class submarine walked out of the darkness. Raising both hands playfully in mock surrender. Iwaki rolled her eyes as the Shipgirls walked forward in a flamboyant manner. A torpedo tube she wielded over her shoulder like a baseball bat.
"Another friend of yours?" Shay asked.
" Calling her a "Friend" would be pushing it, Shay meet Sohai, Sohai meet Shay."
Shay studied the Shipgirl, he said he was impressed by her disguise. She captured perfect detail of the iron tricorn hat worn by a average So-Class submarine. The black waving hair that covered one of her eyes, the twin realistic Abyssal eels which was the usual weapon of choice by the said Abyssal Submarine and not to mention the black cloth bikini wrapped around her curvaceous breast. However, Shay did found her crossbone tattoo on her left shoulder weird, even weirder with a Salter tattoo printed on her left breast, furthermore when she smiled, she notice a golden tooth shining brightly on one of her molar. Plus, she literally were baggy black jeans as her leggings, something a Abyssal would never do. Such flaws would be fatal to her disguise, but then again if Iwaki's shabby disguise made it through that Wo-Class just now, then why would such miniscule details be much problem?
Blinking, Shay said a "Uhh, Hi?"
"AHOY BROTHER! I am Sohai as you have heard! So you are a Whitecoat ah? What did the Ang Mohs (Slang : White people) call it again? Admiral! Yea Admiral right?!" Sohai asked in a usual manner exploded with unnatural friendliness.
"Uhh…"
"SO anyways, what's your rank, how much you cost, and why are you here ah?" Sohai asked enthusiastically as she lean forward, her eyes wild with excitement, Shay smiled nervously.
"Uhh…" was all he had to say , before a fourth sterner voice shocked the trio out.
"What the hell is going on here?"
The two disguised Shipgirls turned to seeing a woman disguised as a Ru-Class. Another well cosplay/disguise , she managed to wield two shield cannons of the Abyssal battleship, captured the sleeveless black business suit they always wear . However like the Sohai, She modified the outfit with a yellow polka-dotted bandana and had the same crossbone and Salter tattoo imprinted on her pale white arm. Unlike Sohai, she kept the cold demeanor of a actual Abyssal, very professional and dedicate in playing her character. But when Shay made eye-contact with her, the Shipgirl gave him a strict frown that send shiver down his spine.
The "Ru-Class" Battleship walked forward, scanning the Admiral with ruby red eyes with apparent distaste before turning to Iwaki and Sohai.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Sohai doesn't hesitate to point at Iwaki, a clear silent message that screams "It was her idea!" Causing Rudder to glare at Iwaki.
"My catch and bonus. We could earn a little extra if we thrown him before his superiors for Ransom, he is a Admiral afterall."
Shay shook a bit
The words "Ransom" and "Earn" set off an alarm in Shay's mind. He looked at the icy eyes of Rudder, and then to the hungry eyes of Sohai. A cold sweat rolled down Shay's forehead, he struggled a bit but found out that Iwaki still have the Admiral restrained both hands behind his back. The ruse was already long lifted, from a Prisoner in pretence, he had long became the real thing.
"Iwaki, our business here is solely to loot whatever we can here, AND get that piece of intel to Ping and get paid. This man here is not part of the equation." Rudder said.
" I already got the intel in a drive, plus we are only getting paid Five Grand from Ping's Contract, FIVE! Plus, the loot we scavenge from this base isn't enough either. And it is not everyday you see an Admiral sitting clean and shiny in his office. So why not earn a few dime and call it a day?"
"A Ransom?! Hah, that's a good one! We shall be known as the first Crew in New Nassau who held an Admiral in a ransom! The Infamy and glory will last us for ages!" Sohai dived into the conversation. A conversation that was going into a direction that Shay really don't like.
"That sort of thinking is extremely naive, you don't know whether the Guardian Offices will ever give a damn about him , or even if you do have the cash. Do you have a dummy account for you to deposit them? How are you going to manage such bounty, that is IF they agreed to our terms. So far, I see him as an liability more. The Guardian Offices may try to hunt us down like animals if this goes too far."
"You just don't get it don't you, or is it that because you're Battleship your head was as armoured as your hull?! Even that baka Sohai got it. Infamy and Gold was the Greatest thing that we seek in our fleet, remember? Isn't this why we join Captain York and become the Salters?! What happened to that? Or has your undead spine already rotted?" Iwaki roared back to the taller girl, hand over the hilt of her Katana
Rudder's eyes twitched a bit in anger, but still maintain an serene demeanor, even tho now there was a dark rage spike with it as a golden yellow began to engulf her. Shay widened his eyes, that is no doubt, an aura of an Flagship Abyssal prepared for combat.
"Ah Mateys, me think we should go back to the Captain and let her decide lah. I mean, she calls the shots here remember? Plus I don't wanna be late for a drink sia. " Sohai said trying to defuse the conflict.
Hearing the word, Rudder pursed her lips. Darting her eyes at Sohai, then at Iwaki. She nodded and let her aura died down, then she gestured her crewmates to move forward.
"Alright, let's get moving Matey." Felt a hand grip him but the left arm and dragged forward. It was Sohai`s.
It sent a shiver that get into his skin. It felt like a corpse pulled from the icy waters grabbing him. It doesn't have the human Warmth of Iwaki. He slowly turned to his right and saw Sohai`s Sharkish grin. Meanwhile, Iwaki took off her luminescent contact lens, returning her eyes to its natural shade of purple. The Shipgirl had taken off her disguise, then why are those two were still … unless!
His thought was cut short as a he was jerked forward by Sohai. Nevertheless he have no choice but to move forward while Iwaki slice through the green with her katana.
After a final cut, sunlight that poured in blinded Shay for a while, forcing them to squint after being so long in the shadowed coverage of the forest. When he opened them again, the eyes opened wider for what was in store for them.
At the shores, dozens of Abyssals, lots of them. A few was resting by sitting on barrels of oil cackling on morbid jokes they made to each other like a group of Ruffians. While rest were moving crates of stolen resources, weapons and scrap while chanting Sea-Shanties like sailors of the past. All of them wear a piece of black scarf and have visible tattoos on some part of their body. Behind them was a Battleship flying a black flag with a Crossbones and Salter. Underneath it were Abyssals moving the cargo onto its Starboard.
"Heave, Ho!" Two Abyssals cried, and a crate of stolen military-grade firearms that belonged to the Personnel Armoury was lifted to the crane.
A rifle dropped on a Wo-Class's head , causing her to cried out a startled "Wo" as she fell on her feet while dropping a notepad. This Wo-class had one eye, lost one probably in some sort of incident before. Unlike the Wo-class just now, this one doesn't seem to have icy cold expression as the one earlier. Those eyes were eyes of innocence that bear no ill will. She had a small black flag bearing the Salter and Crossbones hung on her hat.
"Careful! Careful!" Another voice cried annoyed, this time a Abyssal that was no doubt a Princess. But, had the most outlandish appearance that contradicts her rank amongst the intimidating, evil and imposing high hierarchy of the Abyss.
A pale Teenage girl with short snowly hair , glasses, and gaming headphones while stuffed in a sweater levitating crates and supplies using some sort of telekinesis power. Meanwhile, her eyes on her phone as she walked. Her familiar, a Giant Ball with a Maw that reminds Shay of that Clomp Monster from Mario as it was connected to her braided hair like the iron ball chain that prisoners used to wear back in the old days. She looked more like a video game addict suffering in her college years than a actual Princess. The only thing in imposing about her was a small black band with the Salter and Crossbone symbol that linked her allegiance to this band of criminals.
Shay was dazed at its sight, so many questions flooded his head. Until a nudge from Sohai cause him to continue moving again.
"Come on mate, enough sightseeing, let's go." Sohai said.
"Why are you guys stealing firearms from the Personnel Security Armoury? Abyssals or Shipgirls don't use such conventional weaponry."
"Why? To sell them on the market and earn some bounty of course! Plus, they are incredibly useful in heists." Sohai chirped as She dragged Shay into the fleet of thieves.
"Money?!" Shay thought, Abyssals trying to earn money? The Abyssals would never do that! These girls aren't the Abyssals, he have to confirm...
"One more thing, are you all real Abyssals?"
"Yeah, the only Shipgirl around was Iwaki."
Causing Shay to look at the Shipgirl whom was in cahoots with the Abyssals. A Shipgirl, working WITH the Abyssals. This broke so many rules he know about this society, this war between the Abyss and Humanity… The Cold and Cruel Abyssals who only meant to hate life, was drinking rum, playing with mobile games and earning money?! But why?
Then Shay remembered one thing Iwaki said,
"I wonder if they ever got tired of being evil for the sake of evil. Heh, I know many amongst them did."
He looked at Iwaki who was behind Rudder's back, reminiscing the words she said, or the Answers she gave. However with the Abyssal question answered, that only raises more questions. What's the Shipgirl's problem?
"Wuff!"
A Bark startled Shay as something black and two meters long rushed to his way. A I-class destroyer blared it's teeth him and prowled forward with its little legs. Too used to its Shark-like appearance, this was the first time he managed to get this close to one, and he doesn't even know I-classes have legs!
"Oi, shoo one side mutt!" Sohai swung her arms but the Abyssal Destroyer barked even louder , albeit more aggressive. Giving Shay the urge to step back further from the angry creature before him.
"I...Imo, Come back!" A concerned voice called out.
A petite Abyssal girl who looked no older than fifteen, hovered with thrusters right between the destroyer and the trio. She wears a black sailor top, a cap with two horns as black,but twin-tail snow white hair to contrast the colour. Her innocent eyes were tinted with violet shade. Like the Nerd Princess, this Abyssal was no doubt a Princess as well, and she do suffer the same "Princess" deficiency like the her. But she looked like a Japanese Schoolgirl rather than a Game Addict.
"B...Bad boy! Roll O...Over!"
She tried to act authoritative while stuttering commands, however I - Class named Imo seemed to obey her, it obediently rolled over with its belly facing her for the Princess to rub, and panted happily like a good puppy when she did.
"Good boy." She praised as the I-Class panted in delight and relaxed. Then she turned her eyes at him, which slowly widened as she mutter an "Oh…"
Shay realized, everybody was looking at him, all the Abyssal had stopped doing their work, no shanties sung, no crates lifted, and turned their attention at him. The Nerdy Princess even dropped her crates and phone as she followed the rest. Staring at him in surprise and silence.
"Uhh hi?" Shay asked in a awkward smile. Trying to be friendly.
No one replied him with words, but then the ground shook a bit as a pair of heavy boots can heard stomping to his way.
The Princess with the I-Class quick herded her pet away from him. The crowd of Abyssals can be seen giving moving aside to give way to something else, something big.
"You better be prepared to answer to the Captain Shipgirl. I am here to share gold, not consequences." Rudder hissed to her Shipgirl compatriot. Who merely rolled her eyes at her.
Then the Ru class too, stepped aside too and recreated to the crowd.
Soon the Captain of the Salters was right before Shay. Towering over him with her entire form while blocking the sun, casting a shadow over Shay as her fierce red ruby eyes pierced into his soul. Her bone white hair tied into a single ponytail, a rustic Sailor`s top was her wear while jagged black tight high iron boots and clawed slick gauntlets served as her arms and legs.
Finally, a Abyssal Princess with the imposing aura of an actual one. Better, if she abandoned her belt that holstered a bottle of rum and a black Cutlass.
"G...good morning, I am Shay Maccor." The Admiral said in nervous stutters.
The Captain took out her bottle of rum and took a chug out of it, before wiping her lips with her wrist like a ruffian.
" The Scoundrels called me the Aircraft Carrier Princess. But I prefer Captain York, Ahoy Shay Maccor."
As she said that, a wind blew the Black flag that was hoisted on the top of the main Mast of the Battleship behind her back.
On it, white Salter and Crossbones smiled grimly, and mischievously on Shay.
- Prologue End -