(Note from the Author: I just want to point out that this story IS AU, so if you're looking for a canon story this might not be for you. I merely ask that you keep an open mind here-I usually don't push the envelope with my published stories like this, but it's called 'fanfiction' for a reason-please be respectful)

Chapter Two

Selena headed down the dock with her duffle, looking up at the Iliad and studying her before looking back at the crowd of waving people and waving at them along with everyone else, sensing something to her left and she glanced over, Kongou, Haruna, Kirishima, Makie and her mother standing there out of sight of the others and smiling faintly. 'Goodbye my friends...I love you Mom,' she thought, looking away before hearing something. 'Be careful my daughter,' she heard her mother's voice say, Kongou's voice coming to the fore, 'Watch yourself my niece-there shall be danger over the horizon.'

She blinked at what she heard, shaking her head to clear it before boarding. Kongou smirked as she looked at the others. "She isn't aware of it, but she did hear us." She said. "She has the ability, but does she have the will? That is the question." Takao smirked at Kongou. "I don't think you know my daughter as well as you think you do if you're saying that."

The girl got settled into her room quickly, reporting to the bridge and finding, to her relief, that she had gotten the gunnery station, heading up into what looked like a bubble filled with computer screens and controls for the guns. She looked out at the view she had, glancing down for a moment to make sure no one would see before waving to her friends and mother, her father having joined them with his old crew. She allowed the image to embed in her memory, smiling faintly before turning away, shaking herself and touching the pendant around her neck, closing her eyes. 'I will return to them,' she promised herself, nodding and opening them again as they passed through the sea gate and staring out at the sea beyond, marveling at the deep blue surrounding her as she settled in, acquainting herself with the controls. A male's voice came over the loudspeaker not long after. "This is Captain Jonathan Taggart," he said. "I'd like to welcome you all aboard. I don't want any fighting and if you have an issue, please bring it to me. We're heading out on patrol-been some activity in the area and we're going to check it out." Captain Taggart turned off the loudspeaker, glancing up at the bubble. "You all right up there Thompson?" he asked over the radio. "Need anything?"

"I'm fine sir," she replied over the radio next to her, her mind already far out from them and in a battle. "No problems up here-I can see for miles."

She heard the radio click off, leaving her alone with her thoughts before calming herself, deep in thought.

Elsewhere, two beings met. "Something has changed," one said, her long hair billowing. "Find out who or what is causing this."

The other simply nodded, the large ship moving out. "It will be done ma'am..." came the quiet reply, the figure staring out at the waves in contemplation.

(A.N.: Bit of a filler chapter-we get a look at Selena's reaction to finally leaving home here. As for the gunnery bubble, it's above the bridge and filled with everything the gunner needs, including cameras that can zoom in on targets and readouts on every weapon available on the ship along with controls to fire said weapons. Keep in mind this story is set in 2081 [the story and anime take place in about 2056 and I added 25 for Selena's age and whatnot], so such a thing could be possible. The Iliad and her class of ship are based loosely off the Iowa-class battleship [a ship that was active in battle as recently as 1991]. If you're interested in a somewhat baser view of what the Iliad's armament is, do a web search for 'Iowa-class Battleship'-the wiki page is very good and contains a full list [plus, if you think the Iliad is strong, wait until her successor is brought in])