To Steal A Fleet…

"Fifteen years…" the man shook his head in disbelief. "Fifteen years and we finally get to strike a blow against our enemies"

"Are they, Sir?" asked a woman. "I mean I know they are powerful, but they have done nothing to us"

"Are you intending to disobey your orders, Commander?"

"No, Sir… I just want to understand"

"Ah, very well then… We wish to grow our area of influence – but the Japanese Navy patrols that area along with their contribution to the Blue Mermaids. By taking them out in an attack, it will take years for them to recover and rebuild – and none of them will ever guess it is us that did it"

"Are we not worried that Japan will find out and declare war on us?"

"Even if they did, their fleet would be crippled beyond repair" the man shrugged, "Order the weapon prepared and the fleet to be deployed"

"Yes, Sir"

#

"I can't believe we're all going to meet her at the same time" Maron said as she almost burst through the deck in her excitement.

"Calm down, Maron" Mashiro told her Chief Engineer.

"Sorry" Maron grinned, "But to see the Captain with the entire crew after all this time…"

"You see the Captain every day, Chief Engineer"

"You know there is only one Captain"

"Not sure if I am pleased or insulted" Mashiro laughed and then gave an order to her Helmsman. "Steer 121 – half ahead both"

"Coming starboard to 121… Half ahead both" and the Defender, Mashiro's newest command, swung round and headed for a quiet little bay. Over the years, the Harekaze Class, as it was known, had broken up and gone on to other things. Mei and Tama were now Deputy Captains, the twins were joint head of the Blue Mermaid catering division, Sora was Assistant Chief Engineer on a Blue Mermaid destroyer and others were currently on shoreside appointments.

"You know the Captain was thinking of coming back?" Mashiro asked as she stood looking at the land she called home.

"No, I didn't"

"Blue Mermaids had a ship almost ready but without weapons. Because of some budget cuts, there are no weapons for it. Instead of just storing it, they persuaded the Captain to command it as a medical ship – it goes much faster without weapons and the ammo" Mashiro shrugged. "Mind you, she does do a weapons drill every six months just in case"

"She's fully back?"

"No – but she has some small arms in case of blimp attack"

"So what does she do the rest of the time?" Maron looked around the Bridge, feeling uneasy at not being in her beloved Engine Room whilst underway.

"She teaches from time to time on our time together, but mainly she just sits at her cottage and leaves a peaceful life painting" Mashiro hung up her telescope on the hook. "Officer of the Watch, prepare a boat for launch – Chief Engineer and I will be leaving a short time. Helmsman, you have the Conn"

#

"Shiro… Maron…" Akeno came bounding down the stone steps to the little harbour and gathered them both in a tight hug.

"Captain" the pair of them saluted.

"Never going to stop you from doing that, am I?"

"Never!" they declared with a laugh.

"So what brings you here?" Akeno asked with a smile. "I thought you would have had your own ship by now, Maron"

"I prefer engines… Besides, the last time I left Shiro for any length of time" Maron shrugged and made a gesture with her hands, "She put the Defender into drydock… For four weeks"

"Are you still giving English names to your ships?" Akeno raised an eyebrow in amusement.

"All I did was change a lightbulb. Anyway, Akeno, we've got a major problem. The Americans are sending their ships over to attack us in a massive assault along with a secret kind of weapon we don't know the details of yet. I've tried telling the IJN, but all they have done is pull most of the navy back which leaves the Blumers to carry more weight" Mashiro said. "I've spoken to the others of our class and they've agreed to go out with us to find these ships and stop them before they get close"

"And how am I involved?"

"Because we need you to lead us… In all of the fights we have been in, you were the one that led us to victory in every engagement" Maron said.

"If the fleet has been ordered to remain in port, how do you propose to find this American fleet?" Akeno asked.

"Most of us that hold senior positions in the fleet are offering to bring their ships along – nobody knows about this except for encrypted communications… A legacy from Kaede" Mashiro replied. "Captain, even after all these years, you are still the most experienced commander we have. We need you… I need you. If we are to do this, we must do it now and without the government, the Navy or even His Imperial Majesty knowing about this"

"How many ships?"

"Three cruisers, a pair of destroyers and a battleship… Mina and Kouko are coming with the Bismarck as fast as possible and meeting us at Lubong Island, but they are a week away at maximum speeds"

"What about Gufran?" Akeno asked.

"Two weeks away at top speed on his submarine… he'd never make it" Maron said with regret.

"I see… How long will it take this fleet to arrive near Japan?"

"Four weeks" and Akeno nodded and thought about it for several long moments. After a little while, she spoke once again.

"Go back to the Defender and return in two hours back at this place" Akeno said, "You will have your answer then" and, out of old habit, Mashiro and Maron saluted Akeno and turned to walk back to their boat. Akeno, for her part, watched them return to the Defender before climbing the stone steps back to her cottage thinking hard. What Mashiro and Maron were asking her to do was tantamount to treason and theft of valuable warships that could help defend their nation. On the other hand, keeping the fleet in home waters would limit the time they had to combat this enemy fleet and stop it from launching this new and terrible weapon. With an understanding, Akeno went to her cottage, entered her bedroom and pulled out a sea chest that hadn't been opened except slightly to oil the lock in years. Looking at the contents, she sighed – knowing that she was she going to do was not what she wanted but what she had to do.

#

When the boat returned for Akeno, they found her fully dressed in a dress uniform that was outdated and wearing a slightly dinted Captain's hat and a dress sword attached to her hip. When hearing this news, Mashiro quickly organised a guard to welcome her old Captain aboard which Akeno shook her head at it but accepted all the same. Once the boat was secured, a message was sent out to various ships and people before the Defender set off at top speed for Kure and the port there.

Akeno Misaki was back…

#

Defender got to its assigned berth and Mashiro left the vessel in the hands of her Deputy Captain as she, Akeno and Maron hurried onto the dockside and got into a car. Rumours had abounded after Akeno had boarded in an old style dress uniform – had she been recalled to active duty? As Defender's crew watched, trucks started arriving and unloading items to a number of the ships. Three hours later and more questions were asked as alarms started sounding and ships started leaving their berths.

#

"Clear and free to navigate" Mashiro reported as she brought the Harekaze from its place and out into the open harbour.

"Acknowledged… Bridge to Engine Room, ease the engines up to full speed" Akeno fell into the familiar pattern of commanding a warship. Not only did Akeno find it easy enough to get used to it again, she found it fitting that she was back on the Bridge of the second Harekaze. With so few crew at hand, only Akeno and Mashiro were on the Bridge with Maron handling the engines by herself. "Shiro, steer dead centre of the opening and get us out of here… Let's just hope the power cut to the radar systems works as well as it does"

"Maron normally knows what she is doing" Mashiro agreed. Other ships leaving Kure quickly joined up with the Harekaze and followed her out into the open sea. Once they were well past visual range, they would turn onto a new course for an hour before steaming hard for Lupang Island where they fleet would fully assemble.

"I see that they put her back to the configuration she had when we last sailed her" Akeno said, going over a list of the vessel's condition.

"More or less" Mashiro said as she made a small adjustment to the Helm. "The main batteries are back to how they used to be, but they modified the torpedo launchers a little a few years ago. The engines are almost completely brand new which, in a way, is good"

"Oh?"

"She was going to be retired for use as a museum ship and sailed around the country" Mashiro explained. "Did you not get the letters about it?"

"No" Akeno shook her head and looked back at the notes. "Did you organise the loading of ammunition?"

"Yes – me and Maron thought it was best that we came out fully loaded in case there was no supplies to be had"

"Ah…" Akeno frowned. "You know, I almost gave an order to Rin then"

"I know how you feel" Mashiro replied. "I sometimes give orders to the others that died without thinking about it"

"Well I hope that we get some more crew when we get to our destination" Akeno said, running a finger along the arm of the Captain's chair, "Going to be difficult crewing this with the three of us – even with all the automation"

"We should get more than enough crew to run this ship – enough for actual duty watches" Mashiro and Akeno laughed as they remembered the way the schedules had worked out with the old Harekaze.

"Shiro, are you worried about your people?"

"Mum and my sisters are going to be upset with what I have done, but they will understand in time"

"I meant your crew"

"They are my crew… Apart from Maron, I was never especially close to them. My friends are my family… I learnt that from a wise woman" Mashiro smiled as Akeno blushed heavily.

"That woman was once a foolish girl"

"Perhaps, but that foolish girl was very smart and did extraordinary things"

"Yes… Yes she did" Akeno straightened her pose and spoke with more confidence. "Helm, best speed to Lubong Island"

"Aye, Aye, Captain" Mashiro grinned – her Captain was back.

#

Three days later, they got close to their destination and the Harekaze slowed her progress – as did the other ships. There had been no electronic communication between them and all messages were sent by morse lamp in order to prevent them from being located. Despite being just the three of them, Akeno, Mashiro and Maron launched a Skipper and headed towards the island. As they drew nearer, they could see familiar and new faces waiting for them as they were the last to arrive. Akeno could see Tama, Mei, Hime, Mono, Sora and many others waiting for her and they came to attention and saluted their former Captain and good friend. From what she knew, Akeno could tell her friends and new faces represented the finest officers in the Imperial Navy and the Blue Mermaids – all had broke orders and gathered here to discuss the situation. They met in a tent that had been set up on the beach and discussed the threat that had bought them together.

"The American fleet is sailing towards Japan and will get in range of rockets within four weeks, we believe, however, that the weapon either does not need to be launched by rocket or requires a shorter range" Mashiro said. "I'm guessing that they will refuel somewhere around Midway Atoll where they have a base – that's 3,915 miles away at top speed if we take the most direct route. If they can refuel before we get there, they'd be able to escape into the Pacific and let us run around in circles before its too late"

"So what is the plan?" asked one of the Captains.

"If we steam at top speed, we can be there in less than a week" Maron said. "At that point, our ships would require some refuelling which we can take from their own supplies after we bombard the island and storm ashore to capture it. With Midway under our control, we'd be able to wait for a while and make needed repairs and minor refits before staging out to meet the fleet head-on. Even if the ship carrying the weapon manages to escape, it would be very low on fuel before it got to Japanese waters"

"Could they have a supply ship with them?"

"Its possible" Maron replied, "But we believe they do not because a cargo vessel going missing would be news"

"It goes without saying that some of us might be killed" Mashiro added. "Nobody has engaged an enemy fleet for decades, but we have Captain Misaki with us who has agreed to take the post of Fleet Commander. Despite her quiet life, she is still the most experienced commander we have by a huge margin. Captain?"

"So far, we have done nothing but leave port without orders to do so. However, when we sail from here we will be mutineers attacking a foreign fleet without orders. I want you to go back to your ships, explain the situation to your crews and ask them what they want to do. If there are people who wish to return home, they will be put on the same ship and given the course for home and nothing will be held against them. As I understand it, some of your crews have asked to transfer to the Harekaze and help to crew it. However, I will not take people from your ships unless you agree to it. I want a complete status report on all ships delivered by hand to the Harekaze in three hours" she looked at the people in the tent – faces old and new – and sighed. "You must all know that when we sail for Midway, we must fire upon them before they can get a message out for help – and it might be the case that we take some lives in order to save others. Be sure to impart that information to your crews as well" Akeno looked around at the grim looks and turned the meeting back over to Mashiro.

# # # # #

"I never thought I'd see you back on the Bridge of a warship" Tama said.

"This was not how I intended to spend my next month" Akeno admitted.

"Nor me… I had tickets to the opera next week"

"I didn't think you liked that sort of thing" Akeno raised an eyebrow.

"Not normally, but every year I go to a performance at the National Theatre in honour of Kaede" Tama said and Akeno hesitated at the reminder of a fallen friend before shaking her head clear of bad thoughts. "What brought you back? They have tried a few times, but you turned them all down"

"Duty" Akeno replied, "Duty to my country and my friends… I could not sit by and watch as you headed into battle. That and something told me this will be my final mission"

"You giving up the sea for good?"

"No" Akeno said, "I think I am going to die"

"I'd rather you didn't" Maron said from the corner of the tent.

"I rather wouldn't, but after you and Shiro asked me to come with you, I went back to my cottage and thought hard about it. I want peace, but I would rather die on the Bridge of a ship so I can rejoin my fallen friends and say that I fell with honour" and Maron and Tama looked at Akeno keenly.

"You mean that, don't you?"

"Yeah"

"Well" Maron got to her feet, "I best go back to the ship… Have a lot of work to do. Captain, the Harekaze will be ready to sail in twelve hours" and she saluted and walked off to get a boat.

"CAPTAIN…!" Mashiro came racing through the flaps of the tent with a piece of paper in her hand.

"What is it?" Akeno looked up.

"We picked up a message from one of the Navy's cruisers – it saw the American fleet and was destroyed by them… It was their last message and was almost unreadable"

"Where?"

"We couldn't make it out fully, but we think somewhere around three hundred miles away from Pearl Harbor and steaming in a general direction towards Midway"

"Do you think they heard it back home?"

"I doubt it very much – we almost never heard it ourselves" and Akeno looked at the ships bobbing at anchor.

"We're going now" she decided at last. "Tell everyone they have an hour to find people to help man the Harekaze before we set sail for Midway Atoll"

"Aye, Aye"

#

"All hands, this is Captain Misaki… All stations, report to the Bridge"

"Engine Room ready in all respects" Maron announced.

"Torpedo and subsurface warfare ready"

"Main and Secondary batteries are standing by"

"Communications online"

"Lookouts posted"

"Radar ready"

"Sonar is a go"

"Captain" Mashiro turned to Akeno formally, "The ship reports ready for sea"

"Very good" Akeno picked up the waiting microphone. "Attention all ships, this is the Fleet Commander… Set course for Midway Atoll and come to 18 knots… After acknowledging this, make no further transmissions of any kind by radio. Mashiro, take the wheel"

"Aye, Captain… I have the wheel"

"Ring on for 18 knots and come right bearing 223"

"Acknowledged" and Mashiro rang the engine telegraphs, promptly replied to by a waiting Maron, and spun the wheel as the fleet swung round and came together for the dash to Midway and the US base there.

"Lookouts…" Akeno gripped her the arms of her chair tightly, "Signal the following in flags and morse lamps to the fleet - Action Stations"

A/N:

You know what to do…

Regards,

Pixel and Stephanie