The Sikatuna Incident

Disclaimer: High School Fleet belongs to Reiko Yoshida


Chapter 2: Apprehensions

The Harekaze was on its way in response to a distress call broadcasted by the Philippine ship, Datu Sikatuna, claiming that it had suffered engine failure and was adrift with no power. Due to several unfortunate mishaps, the Harekaze could only receive and was not able to transmit messages, thus barring them from communicating with the supposed troubled Sikatuna and to know of its status. Captain-trainee, Akeno Misaki, going against her own better judgment decided to assist the beleaguered ship, not knowing if it might be involved somehow in the overall mess that the Harekaze and its inexperienced but hearty crew had gotten themselves into.

"Maintain cruising speed! Any faster than this and I can't guarantee us of not stalling!" hollered Maron Yanagiwara from engineering, her voice coming through loud and strong to the people on the bridge.

"At this rate it will take us two and half hours to get to the the Sikatuna's location." stated Rin, her demeanor having calmed down.

"But it will be too dark by that time. We haven 't had any night training yet, Captain." As usual Mashiro looked at things grimly.

"Well, there is always a first time for everything; why not now?" replied Akeno happily while holding Isoroku into her chest with one hand while her other hand patted the cute, fat Tabby's head.

The rather overweight, indifferent-eyed feline has unofficially become the Harekaze's mascot, whether the girls liked it or not, and most especially not Mashiro, who still harbored personal misgivings over Isoroku, whom she considers the origins of her misfortunes ever since entering Yokosuka Girls' Marine High School.

"Besides," Akeno continued. "We don't know how dire the situation is on the Sikatuna. We have to hurry and get there as soon as we can."

Mashiro could only grudgingly agree with the girl's simple-minded determination. In better times, when she would have been better trained and prepared, she would have probably done the same as what Akeno is doing now. But this was not one of those times and Mashiro sometimes wondered if her bad luck has played a part in all of this.

"So, Captain, what did you do back there earlier? And what are these 'countermeasures' that you mentioned?" Mashiro asked, changing the subject.

Akeno set Isoroku down before replying, eliciting a disappointed grunt from the cat.

"Oh, I went to check on our German guest in the infirmary. She's still out of it, but Minami says that she is fine, in spite of what she has gone through. It's a miracle really, for someone like that to have survived such a bombardment."

"That's good to hear. I was pretty sure that she would have been blasted to smithereens with the rest of her small craft." Mei said.

"I'm pretty sure that it must have been a very scary experience with all those bombs falling around her. At least, I know that I would have been if I were in her place." Rin mused, always being her mousy self.

"Well that is indeed some good news, Captain, and what of the other matter?" Mashiro prodded Akeno.

"Well…"


"Here you go, Kapitan! Today's dinner: Blood pudding stew!" Marina Pangil, Deputy-Captain of the Sikatuna, presented the tray with the aforementioned meal along with some side dishes to a girl no older than she, whom minutes before, had had the bridge to herself.

"Thanks, Marina." Ging Lobregat, age fifteen, an outstanding student of the Sampagita Maritime School for Girls of Manila, took the tray from her Deputy-Captain and looked for a place where she could comfortably enjoy her meal.

"Aren't you going to take it to your quarters, Kapitan? I can take it from here." Marina said, flashing an expectant toothy grin that she was well known for.

"I'm fine here. What about you?" Ging asked.

Marina rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment. "Haha! I might have overate…"

"How many?" Ging asked, having not started on her food yet.

"…Three…" Marina answered meekly.

"That's three too much!"

"Hey! I am a growing girl you see, Ging! Besides, I can eat as much as I want and still maintain this slim gorgeous figure!" Marina teased her Captain, showing off her rather slender yet less than endowed form.

"More like you're a stick with a bottomless pit." Ging said rather casually, digging into her meal that was getting cold.

"Hey, that was totally mean of you to say!" Marina pouted.

Ging ignored her and was about to have a spoonful of her meal when she realized something. "This is blood pudding, right? What about Sarah and the rest…"

"No need to worry!" cheerfully recovered Marina, giving a knowing grin. "They have some beef curry dish. Kulma I think. Had that too…"

Ging frowned at her. "Then there is no excuse for me comparing you to that 'bottomless pit for a stomach' analogy, is there?" Ging said as she finally started eating, relishing the meal's taste with each spoonful.

"Meanie!" Marina stuck her tongue out at Ging while the girl enjoyed her food in relative bliss.

Both girls settled into the relative silence of the Sikatuna's bridge for a while, until Marina spoke up.

"Hey, Ging. Do you think that they will really come for us? What if they don't come…"

"They will come. My gut feeling is telling me that they will."

"I hope that you're right, Ging. Many of the girls are expressing their doubts about what we're doing here. We should be in Japan by now."

"And we will be, eventually, once this thing is done."


"And so, that's the plan." Akeno had just finished her discussion with the bridge staff of the Harekaze with regards to any eventuality that they will face once they reach and make contact with the Sikatuna.

"Wow, Akeno, when think things get tough, you don't pull out the stops. I'm so impressed and so excited!" Mei was getting all giddy and starry-eyed after hearing all the exciting parts of the plan from Akeno.

"Well, I for one, think it's reckless…and scary." Rin lamented.

"Grow a pair, Shiretoko! Since when has this misadventure been anything but reckless?" Mashiro scolded.

"Wah! I'm so sorry!" Rin started to cry.

"There. There. We're all in this together." Shima patted Rin on the back, consoling her.

Akeno tried to smile at the antics and at the air of the situation. She could not help but feel like a mother hen overseeing the little chicks under her, but she believes that with everybody's help that they can weather out these adversities and get home safely. It is then that she notices Kouko with a troubled look on her face. As a matter of fact, she has been wearing that mask ever since the discussion over the possible course of actions that they would take when they meet up with the Sikatuna.

"Koko," Akeno called out, calling Kouko by her designated nickname. "Is there something the matter? You seem quiet and troubled since our discussion."

"Do you need to go to the bathroom? You really shouldn't hold it in." Mei said, egging on Kouko.

"No! That's not it!" Kouko shouted while blushing.

"Then what is it?" Mashiro said in annoyance. "I noticed you looking distressed earlier. If you have something important to say then just spit it out."

For a few moments Kouko fidgeted with her tablet, her expression obviously showed that something was eating her up. She eventually spoke her mind.

"I might have made a grave oversight earlier…"

All eyes and ears were anxiously focused on her and on what she was about to reveal to them.

"I believe that the Sikatuna is not alone…"


A/N: Next chapter will be exciting conclusion, maybe.