The Chase Begins…
"The whole class agreed to come" Mashiro said, "But the majority of them are not happy and I can understand why" she added. "We've been away for three months and we were expecting to see our families"
"That's easy for you" Akeno smirked. "The automation will be complete in three days, so I have got us that much to relax with at the least. I'm sorry it is not more, I know we've earned it, but we have a mission not just for the school but for the country – we have to do it"
"So…" Minami said from the back of the room, "What are we going to do?"
"Well, I thought we'd round up the crew, get some cash together and go drinking" Akeno said.
"Gets my vote" replied Minami.
"You know all we can buy is sake, right?" Mei pointed out.
"True, but as we have graduated from the school, albeit without ceremony, we are legally declared adults" Kaede smiled. "It is of expected of me to take you all to bathhouses followed by a banquet and traditional music… So howabout we ditch all that and go for burgers and coke?"
"Woo Hoo" Macchi called out.
"Do you get the feeling that sometimes we act like kids?" Akeno chuckled.
"After the battle with Musashi, I think we stopped being kids" Mashiro replied and then paused.
"Shiro?"
"Can we go dodgem car driving?" the girl blushed. "I have always wanted to try it"
"Sure" Akeno smiled and gave her a hug. "We have three days to eat, drink and be merry… For tomorrow, we dine in hell!"
"You know, Captain, I think it was a mistake to get you those Greek stories" Mashiro shook her head and pulled out a pencil and a notebook as the crew decided what they wanted to do.
#
It was the final evening before they had to report to the Yamato and sail away after the Nagato. Kaede had gathered the entire crew together and driven them in a fleet of limousines to her home in the shadow of Mount Fuji where she had prepared a feast for them with the help of her family retainers and servants. In the few years they had trained together, only some of them had had a glimpse into Kaede's home life when away from the sea. With that in mind, and with a mission of great importance, Kaede had invited them all to her home for a meal together to celebrate their graduation, albeit a hurried ceremony, and as a mark of respect between herself and her crewmates as part of her way to celebrate friendship and service. Afterwards, they moved into a reception room where Kaede showed off her talents in music and singing - leaving them stunned at her ability. Soon, they got very tired from the feasting and drinking and they broke into small groups as some of the girls drifted away to bedrooms. Despite drinking sake a lot, only Mashiro seemed to be affected – having to be dragged to her room for the night after trying to hug a stone shark in the water garden.
"I don't wanna leave you, Bruce" she said.
#
The crew spent their final night ashore together at Kaede's family house before rising for breakfast – waiting respectfully for those that believed in such things to come back from morning worship. When they were all ready, they got into the limos and were driven back to the waiting Yamato which had been fully stored and readied for sea by the dockyard workers. Mashiro's mother and sisters had all come down to wave them off as the girls took up stations and got themselves ready.
"Captain, you realise that we have no flag to fly" Mashiro suddenly remarked.
"I know… That's why I had Macchi run up our flag from the old Harekaze – it was found drifting in the sea a few days after the battle and returned to the school" Akeno glanced around the Bridge. "Okay, Deputy Captain, we're off"
"Aye, Captain" Mashiro reached for the intercom mounted to the forward bulkhead. "Attention all hands, this is the Deputy Captain – prepare to departure. All departments, report readiness"
"Navigation department, ready for sea" Rin said.
"Bridge, Engine Room – ready for sea in all respects" Maron called.
"Sickbay is a go" Minami reported.
"Sonar systems are fully operational" Kaede commented with a groan. "Sonar officer… Not so much"
"Radio is a go" Tsugu said cheerfully and, one by one, the remaining departments reported their readiness for sea.
"Engine Room, Bridge, ring on main engines"
"Aye, Aye" Maron replied.
"Cast off all lines" Mashiro ordered.
"Rin, right standard rudder… Ease us away nice and slowly"
"Aye, Captain" Rin spun the wheel and the Yamato, responding to her engines and rudder, slowly edged away from the dock. Akeno sounded the ship's siren three times in the traditional manner and then had Rin set her wheel midships and to steam half ahead.
"Passing the Harekaze II" Macchi said. "Feels strange to see her just sitting there" she added from her position way above.
"Tama, load a salvo of blanks – fire turret by turret as we pass" Akeno ordered. Tama did so and the girls saluted their old ship as they sailed by and out into the open water. "Rin, come to 132 degrees – maintain speed. Shiro, I think it is time that I told the crew our orders"
"I agree" Mashiro said formally.
"This is Akeno… I'm sorry to say that you have been partly lied to about the reason we're on the Yamato. Whilst it is true we are the top of our year at the school, we were also tasked with an important mission by the head of the Imperial Navy himself. One of our ships, Nagato is believed to have been captured by unfriendly forces whilst in the middle of weapons tests. It is possible that she was taken by either pirates or an unfriendly nation – we just don't know. Admiral Kawano himself asked me to go after it and ordered me to not tell you the real truth until we had sailed, and for that I am sorry. Whilst other ships could have gone looking for her, we were selected because the late Emperor trusted us greatly after we saved his nation during the attempted takeover a few years ago. Our formal orders are to take the Yamato out to where the Nagato was last seen and find her. When we do, we are to attempt to capture her or, if necessary, to destroy and her send her to the bottom of the sea" Akeno paused and thought of something for several moments. "I did not have time to make out watch cycles, so we'll just use the ones we are used to. For now, please assume that the first watch is on duty. Additionally, nobody has to wear their uniforms if they don't want to… So wear what you want within reason" and she thought about something else. "I know you all were looking forward to what your lives in the Blue Mermaids would bring, but I have been assured that we will get granted our pick of duty choices when we come back. That is all" and the girl replaced the microphone. "Shiro, I need to speak to you – Rin, you have the Bridge"
#
"… and the range?" asked Mashiro as she held a cup of tea in her hands in the Captain's Cabin. One good thing about the vastness of the Yamato was that the entire class all got individual cabins in officer quarters – a step up from either of the Harekazes they had served on.
"Fifty miles… The weapons were only supposed to be unlocked with codes given by Tokyo, but I think it's safe to guess whoever took Nagato will be able to break those codes and be able to fire" Akeno lay back in an armchair and sighed. "Apparently, the weapon works by firing from the edge of Radar range and using a blimp drone as a relay to finish the missile's journey. I've been told that it will only work on land based targets, but who knows what these people have done to the missiles?"
"Why would the Imperial navy build such a thing?" Mashiro frowned.
"Because it would make any enemy think twice before attacking us – that is the theory at least" Akeno sipped her own tea. "If we can catch them before they can break the codes of the missiles, we might stand a chance of disabling her and calling for help"
"I'll speak to Tama when she comes off watch in half an hour" Mashiro said, "But I believe we have the longer ranger main guns so we might be able to lay down Radar controlled salvos… I just…"
"It's tough, isn't it?"
"Aye, Captain" Mashiro finished her tea and placed the cup on a nearby shelf. "I know we trained for this sort of thing over the years, but I never thought after the mutiny and virus I'd ever fire on a live target again"
"We should try to avoid loss of life, Shiro, but this is a mission like any other to completed – we have a target to find and deal with" Akeno looked up at her Deputy Captain. "Can I count on you?"
"To the job, Captain"
"In the morning, I want to start running drills – everything from fire to flooding and ending up with lifeboat drills. We're highly trained, at the top of our game, but let's not get complacent here… We've never been on this ship except last year on a courtesy visit when we were in the same port together – we need to know where everything is" Mashiro looked at Akeno who seemed to have a great many problems on her mind and in her soul.
"If you don't mind, Captain, I think I might spend some time in the library looking up facts about the Nagato and her weapons. Goodnight" and she quietly left the cabin. With most of the girls asleep, Akeno was left to mull over the possible outcomes that their mission could up with. Years ago, she had lost one member of her crew – she did not want to lose another.
#
"Can you pass the sugar?" asked Kaede. It was three days after they had set sail and the crew had slowly got used to their new vessel. Tsugu looked up and pushed a bowl over to the other girl who thanked her before putting two spoons of it into her coffee. "I wonder how we will do against the Nagato" and Tsugu looked at her with a shrug.
"As good as we can do, I suppose" she replied. "At least we are the ones in a Yamato class ship as opposed to being shot at by one, but Nagato is still a powerful warship in her own right… We would do well to respect it"
"Who knows what these people have done in terms of her armament" Kaede nodded. "I spoke to Tama earlier, and she says that we can fire at a greater distance with conventional weapons – she's got no idea what these new ones can do. What I know, however, is that I agreed to help the Captain and I promise to do my best"
"We all will" Macchi said from her corner of the Wardroom. She was sat reading a book on poetry and drinking herbal tea – thinking about their mission and the possible outcomes. To go from a Destroyer to a Battleship was a huge step forward and the girl was worried about letting others down in the performance of her duties. Setting aside her book, she turned to the others with a shy smile gracing her lips. "When we were asked to help the Captain find the Nagato, each of us had the chance to not go and take up our scheduled appointments with the Blue Mermaids. The fact we did not shows that all of us trust the Captain to get us home safe and sound – like she has done before"
"Not always" Tsugu commented.
"No…" Macchi agreed softly, "Not always…"
"Sometimes, when I'm off watch and in my bunk, I wonder why Kuroki did that" Kaede shook her head.
"She knew there was going to be a ramming attempt and that Maron was badly injured – she'd never have made it out of there without help. Knowing that, she had Gufran get Maron onto a boat and away to safety before handling the engines and double checking the scuttling charges. The log indicates that, just before the Harekaze blew up, the Assistant Engineer was holding off mutinous Blue Mermaids and Imperial Navy people from getting to the receiver and transmitter. Kuroki did her duty to the best of her ability and made sure her classmates got away safely" Macchi told them.
"I hate to think she's down there rotting" Tsugu shuddered.
"With the amount of explosive that obliterated the hull, I'm guessing she was torn to bits and vaporised. Whatever the case, that wreck will never be majorly disturbed – my father made sure of that" Kaede said. Tsugu would have said something before the speakers crackled and Rin's voice came over the speakers.
"ACTION STATIONS – HOSTILE VESSEL DETECTED… THIS IS NOT A DRILL… ACTION STATIONS, ACTION STATIONS – SET CONDITION ONE THROUGHOUT THE SHIP" and the girls looked at each other before scrambling to their stations.
#
"What do you see?" asked Akeno as she rushed onto the Bridge.
"Warship dead ahead – she's not answering any messages by either radio or flags" Rin replied.
"Did you try morse?"
"Yes… Given what we know about how Nagato was taken, I decided to err on the side of caution and get us ready"
"You did well" Akeno assured her. "Radio Room, send hostile challenge and ID. Lookouts, can you identify?"
"Not yet" came the reply.
"Gunnery, standby for surface action" Akeno ordered.
"All departments manned and ready" Mashiro reported.
"Radio Room… Unknown vessel reporting as the Hyūga. They apologise for not getting in touch with us, but they have been experiencing trouble with their radio equipment after encountering Nagato"
"Tama, train the forward guns on Hyūga – prepare to open fire" Akeno said. "Tsugu, ask what their encounter with Nagato was like. Rin, slow us down to half ahead"
"Understood" and the Yamato slowed down somewhat.
"They say that they were fired upon by her, but it seemed to take a lot of care to simply disable them and not to actually sink it. Hyūga reports being able to get underway on the one engine for home inside three hours" Tsugu called from her position. Akeno thought about it for a few moments and then ordered the guns reconfirmed on the Hyūga and Tsugu to send a code and give her the exact reply back.
"Bridge, the code we got back corresponds with one out of date three months ago"
"Open fire!" Akeno instantly gave the command without hesitation. "Mei, load torpedo tubes and standby to launch. Rin, full ahead – hard to starboard. Tama, get the aft turret aimed and fired the second you get a good shot"
"Aye"
"Captain?" Mashiro spoke softly.
"Hyūga was supposed to have been scrapped last month" Akeno said. "Tama, cease fire. Mei, fire a spread of torpedoes into her – one salvo only" and the girls complied and a spread of torpedoes were launched into the quickly ruined Hyūga's hull which began to tilt over and list badly.
"I see boats being thrown over" one of the Bridge Lookouts said. Akeno and Mashiro used their binoculars to check and did see boats being tossed into the water and people jumping into the sea and getting in them.
"Mashiro, take as many people as we can spare and board that wreck" Akeno said to Mashiro, "Get as much information as you can and be safe"
"Aye, Captain. Boarding parties, assemble by the boats" Mashiro gave the command and left the Bridge.
"Tama, Mei… Load a single salvo from all weapons and prepare to open fire. Anybody that isn't in the boarding parties, and who can be spared, go up on deck and be ready to repel boarders. Engine Room, Bridge – be ready for full power the minute our boats return" Akeno was not going to take any chances with the now shipwrecked pirates trying to take over the Yamato. "Rin, course to the nearest shipping lanes?"
"I'll have to check the map and plot it"
"Do it… I might not like them, but I am not going to let them die needlessly. Tsugu, get our position from Rin and send it to Headquarters and to the Blue Mermaids. Tell them there are survivors from the sinking and they require rescuing and arresting" Akeno looked around the Bridge. "Tama, swivel the side guns towards the lifeboats and rafts" and Tama froze with widened eyes.
"C-Captain?" she stammered.
"I'm not going to shoot them" Akeno assured her, "I just want to stop anybody from thinking they can board us"
"A-Aye"
"No… Wait…" Akeno had just had an idea. "Have the boats see if the Captain survived and get Shiro to ask what his purpose was. Rin, the deck is yours" and she turned over command of the ship to Rin before heading below to her cabin.
"I'm not sure if she is okay" said Mei.
"She is" Tama replied, "The Captain's Log is in her cabin – she'll be filling it in right now before she loses the details"
"What about the Ship's Log?" Rin asked.
"You'd better fill it in" Mei told her.
"Me?"
"Well, the Captain did leave you in command until she comes back or the Deputy Captain does"
"R-Right" Rin squeaked.
# # # # #
Akeno gathered the crew together after their evening meal and presented their findings from the information recovered from questions asked of the Hyūga's shipwrecked survivors. It had taken them some time to break the encryptions, but it had been managed and the information was shocking to say the least. Somebody had told them where the Yamato was heading towards and that they were to intercept and sink her.
"This is our position" Akeno pointed out a spot on a map projected onto the bulkhead. "As far as we can make out, the Nagato is somewhere off the coast of the Philippines getting supplied by a tanker and a dry stores ship. We only have a rough idea where it might be, so finding a ship that's gone silent is going to be difficult. Deputy Captain"
"We know from messages received by the Hyūga that those that took the Nagato have managed to break the codes for one of the missiles it carries" Mashiro took over. "We don't know if they have been able to arm the warhead, but we have to assume they can do this. Apparently, they have also been able to sink two merchant vessels in the last 48 hours, but not until the crews had been evacuated to the lifeboats and given a course for land – we've no idea why… Unfortunately, we are also in a race against time – Nagato is going to finish fuelling before going towards Palau and then doubling back and out towards Africa"
"Even if she took the Celebes Sea, she'd need to meet a refuelling tanker again" Rin pointed out. "To make it to somewhere off the African coasts, she would have to do no more than 16 knots – assuming she doesn't take a dog leg approach"
"And if they don't just steal it, then it's possible they have a lot more help than we expected" Mashiro nodded.
"But we have a fuel problem ourselves" Maron said. "Our speed is greater compared to Nagato's, but our range is at least a thousand miles below hers. We also spent the first three days at full speed which ate up our fuel allowances badly, so we need to fuel quickly or else we're in danger of coming to a halt"
"If we assume that she's going to the African coast, couldn't we refuel in Sri Lanka?" Kaede asked. "My father knows people who owe him more favours than can ever be paid, so we can get our fuel there"
"Only three days sailing away" Rin pointed out.
"Very well" Akeno took over again. "Rin, plot us a course for Sri Lanka – maximum speed. Maron, can you service the engines in the amount of time we will be stopped for?"
"Assuming I can get help shifting supplies around, just about…" the red headed girl shrugged. "I doubt the engines have ever been push this far for a long time"
"If the pirates are going to fuel again somewhere off the African coast, then I would suggest Somalia – it had a lot of pirate activity. That being the case, these people might have contacts that could raise the alarm" Macchi said. "If only we could spy on them without being seen"
"Right… I'll just see if the Navy supplied us with a drone or submarine" Mei chuckled.
"What a time to be without your boyfriend, Chief Engineer" Mikran smirked at Maron who glared back at her.
"Kaede, would it be possible to arrange replenishment at sea?" Maron blinked at Akeno's question in surprise – she'd not expected that at all.
"Certainly, but we would have to stop to do it. I am afraid it is not something civilian crews train for much"
"I could plot us a course that will keep us near to Sri Lanka, but just enough away as to be off the main sea lanes" Rin said. "At full speed, we'd be able to get there quickly and then shut down the engines and let Maron service them as best as she can"
"But where is Nagato going to go after that?" asked Minami.
"Our best guess is that she might try to harass shipping in the Gulf before making a break into the Atlantic" Akeno said. "She could steal an oil tanker and take it with her until it is empty and sink it. With a fully topped up bunker, she could go anywhere"
"I have an idea" Minami spoke again. "Because I never had much to do on our second ship, I used to read old sailing novels based on true stories. Some of them mentioned secret or hidden bases and supply dumps in the arctic. In the European War a hundred years ago, they set up supply bases there with stone harbours – I remember it mentioned in history classes too"
"Shiro?" Akeno glanced at Mashiro.
"I think I recall one of them located somewhere in Norway" the girl replied uncertainly, "But I can't recall where exactly. Maybe we can look it up on the web or something" she added with a shrug.
"One problem – we come back to fuel" Maron said. "Even if we went through the Med, we'd run out of fuel before we got to Norway"
"Kaede?"
"My father's business contacts are only really in Asia and Africa… He's got nothing that could help us in Europe" the sonar operator apologised.
"I have it!" Mashiro jumped to her feet. "Mina and Kouko should have got back to Germany by now – maybe they can help us by organising a refuelling tanker to meet us at sea"
"I could encrypt the message if it helps" Tsugu offered.
"We'll think about it… Now, supplies – are we still good for stuff?" Akeno asked Mikran.
"Yes, but it would be nice to stock up again with fresh foods if we can get some"
"Like what?"
"Fresh milk, meat, eggs, cheese, butter… That sort of thing"
"Okay, work with Mono and Hime on that… We're not going to have all that much time to load fresh stuff onboard" Akeno tapped the desk before her and sighed. "Before it is too late, is there anybody that wants to go home? If there is, please see me in my cabin in an hour. For now, speak with the Deputy Captain about things we really need to have – the tanker will not have all that much space for boxes after all. Heads of Department, I want to see you now in my cabin"
"Aye, Aye, Captain"
#
"I didn't want to alarm the rest of the crew, but it appears as if the people aboard Nagato have been able to break the codes and can now launch all of their missiles at any target they wish within range. Knowing this, I think they might try to attack shipping in the Gulf as well as an oil rig or two before making a dash for it" Akeno traced a finger along a line on a paper map. "She has eight missiles… If you assume that she takes out two oil rigs by these missiles, then it leaves her six for attacking Japan itself"
"Can't we tell the Navy and have them try to intercept Nagato?" asked Tama.
"We could try, but such a message could be intercepted by whoever is behind this" Akeno shook her head. "We'll pass a message to Mina and Kouko and they can get it through to Mashiro's mother who can pass it to the Imperial Navy Headquarters. Now, Rin, Maron… How much fuel would we have if we intercepted the Nagato off Gibraltar?"
"We don't even know she is heading that way" Maron pointed out. "She could refuel and be hundreds of miles away before we could get in range"
"True, but they need the fuel" Rin pointed out. "If they get to Gibraltar then they could take some of the smaller tankers coming through from the Mediterranean – that would give them more than enough fuel. Our advantage is that we know their plans and they don't know we know… Captain, if we go through the Suez Canal we could cut them off and save ships and lives"
"You don't think they will take that themselves?" Kaede asked.
"It will take a longer time, but going round the cape gives them more sea room" Rin replied, looking at the map and doing quick calculations in her head. "Assuming we only slow down for the passage of the canal itself, at full speed we can make the mouth of the Med in thirty six hours after refuelling"
"Good. Now, another thing is that if we encounter the Nagato, we will offer it a chance to surrender. I do not expect them to agree, so we will be aiming to sinking outright and keep on firing until it blows up and sinks – I need to know if you are okay with that" Akeno looked around her cabin.
"I think I speak for us all when I say we should get the job done and sink the bastards" Maron said proudly.
"I respectfully agree with the Chief Engineer's assessment" Kaede said.
"Thanks… You know, I have a feeling this is related to the Blue Mermaid mutiny we stopped years ago – only this time they plan to plunge our country into civil war"
"It can't be, surely…" Tsugu blinked.
"Only thing that fits" shrugged Tama. "I do not care if they are pirates, traitors or mutineers… My guns are ready to gain justice"
"Well that–" Aleno was cut off by the phone going off.
"Bridge to Captain"
"Captain here… What's up?"
"Priority One call for you"
"From who?"
"It is from the Nagato"
"Nagato?" Akeno hissed. "Pass it through to my cabin" and she looked at the others. "I'm going to put this on speaker phone… None of you say a word" and they nodded as Akeno flicked the switch that would put her terminal to hands free. "This is Captain Akeno Misaki of the IJN Yamato – to who am I speaking?"
"I am in charge of those that took Nagato away. I realise what you have been told, but we have only taken the ship to stop her weapons being used for what it was intended"
"What do you mean? You took the ship by force and threw her crew into the sea" Akeno replied. "Why should I believe anything you say?"
"Captain Misaki, I see that you are no fool… Very well… Admiral Kawano is leading us on a mission to make Japan great again and to gain new lands for what we lost in the great floods. Nippon must be the ruler of this part of the world – we need the land to grow and to feed our people. If we have to take it by force, then so be it… I will give you one choice, Captain – you and your crew can join us in our glorious mission or die"
"I'd rather die" and Akeno turned off the phone. "Captain to Radio Room – did you get a fix on that position?"
"Aye… Somewhere around North Sentinel Island"
"Then pass it up to the Bridge and tell them to head that way at maximum speed" Akeno ordered. "I know that place – its where stone age people live"
"Yeah… Isn't it a law or something to land there?" Maron blinked, scratching the back of her head in thought.
"There is… If they've enslaved them…" Akeno shook her head. "Kaede, get that tanker to meet us on our way to North Sentinel Island – Rin, get back to the bridge and handle the wheel. I want us there as quickly as possible"
#
"Whats wrong, Captain?" Mashiro asked as she stepped into Akeno's cabin and closed the hatch behind her.
"My name is Akeno, Shiro… You know that" Akeno sighed from her bed. "I'm worried that what we are doing is going to cost lives – on our side at least"
"You told us what Admiral Kawano said – we are the only ones he could trust"
"I know that, Shiro, but there are thousands of people in the Imperial Navy… None of them could be trusted to man the Yamato at all? For that matter, why send just us out?"
"I thought Shirano was in for a refit"
"Not that big a one – she could have sailed several hours after we left" Akeno looked at her friend and Deputy Captain. "Shiro, if you knew we had pinpointed your location via radio you'd run away at high speed, right?"
"Of course – the enemy knows we're coming"
"So where would they go? I'm convinced not all the information we recovered is correct… It's a trap"
"But how can it be a trap even if they knew we are coming if they don't know…" a terrible thought struck Mashiro as she pulled at the intercom handset. "This is the Deputy Captain, Action Stations… Set Condition One! Radar, what is our plot?"
"One commercial liner, some small fishing craft and a large unknown target" came the muffled reply – straining to get through over the noise of sirens going off.
"Give that course and speed to the Bridge – order them to follow"
"Shiro?" Akeno had swung to her feet.
"They know we are on the very limit of our range… They've worked it out to the last detail, plotted a trap and now sprung it against us"
"You think they have been tracking us?"
"They have to be… Captain, we were not sent out to find Nagato – we were made to deliver Yamato to the pirates"
"No…" Akeno whispered. "Come on, lets get to the bridge!" and Mashiro followed the Captain to the Bridge.
#
Akeno was not sure if it was legal to do so or not, but she ordered that the Yamato's Radar systems be turned off and that the Sonar array be detuned to the same levels as a commercial set. Her hope was that the Nagato would see it on their Radar scopes, listen to the electronic emissions and assume that such a large target was merely a factory fishing ship. In addition to that, the running lights had been turned off as well as all the lights that might be seen from the outside. As this included the controls and displays on the Bridge, navigation was being handled a compass in Minami's office deep inside the ship with course headings being sent up via telephone.
"Bridge, Radio Room – picking up some faint signals of unknown type bearing 132"
"Bridge, Aye. Macchi, anything bearing 132?"
"I can't see anything, but there is a bit of mist around" came the whispered reply.
"Captain, if we don't think about turning we are going to hit the rocks" Rin said.
"How soon?" asked Akeno.
"Three minutes"
"Stop port engine and slow ahead starboard" Akeno worked out the position in her head, but she was no navigator like Rin. "Come right heading 132"
"Stop Port. Slow ahead starboard. Come right heading 132" Rin replied. Slowly and sluggishly, the Yamato came around to her new course – heading slowly towards the unknown signals which Tsugu said were getting a bit firmer.
"Slow ahead both"
"Slow ahead both" Rin repeated.
"Captain!" Macchi hissed from high above, "There is something moving to the starboard side. I don't know what it was, but it was a large grey shadow bearing 135… Maybe 136"
"I have something bearing 135" the Radar operator reported. "It's not a fishing vessel for sure"
"Kaede, aim the sonar system so that it points slightly forwards and down at the same time" Mashiro said.
"I can't do that in low powered mode" came her quiet reply.
"Bridge, this is Mikran… I can hear a quiet but also loud humming noise" Mikran had been positioned in the very bows of the Yamato to listen for any ship noises.
"Stop both engines" Akeno ordered quickly. "Tama, are your guns ready?"
"Yes" the girl whispered. Akeno simply nodded and turned to look back out of the Bridge windows – hoping something would happen to get rid of the mist that had sprung up.
"Bridge, Mikran… That humming is louder now… Must be pretty close" there was a short pause before she came back on the radio again. "Must be a hundred yards away if–"
"ENEMY SHIP TO STARBOARD!" Macchi yelled as the Nagato came out of the mist and fired a broadside into the heart of the Yamato.
"Tama, fire right back at her… Rin, hard to starboard – full ahead both" Akeno snapped and Yamato's guns fired back at Nagato. Mei, without being ordered to do so, fired torpedoes and some of them actually hit their enemy and made it slow a little.
"Tsugu, order Nagato to heave to prepare to be boarded" Mashiro said.
"Bridge, a large box is aiming towards us" Macchi called down and Akeno rushed out to the port Bridge wing and saw a squat looking box turning on Nagato's stern to aim at them.
"What is…" Akeno was cut off as the box spouted flames and something rushed out and struck the Yamato's hull by the waterline.
"We're taking on water – it must have hit between two sections" Maron was talking as Akeno came back inside. The ship shook badly as they felt another impact and a third and Rin reported losing her ability to steer the ship.
"Bring us around on the engines… We have to keep firing on Nagato" Mashiro said, but Akeno shook her head.
"She's moving back into the mist" she pointed out. "For some reason she wants to just disable us a bit… Rin, stop both"
"Stop both, Aye"
"Mashiro, get a full damage report. Set the Radar to full power again and track the Nagato until we can no longer do so"
"Bridge, Engine Room… I have the backup steering system sorted out – we can go after the bastards" Maron called up with a curse.
"Are you sure?"
"Aye"
"Rin, bring us about and get us back on their tail! Maron, I need you to give me flank speed"
"Aye, Aye"
"Seems our Chief Engineer works quickly" Mashiro grinned. Yamato, eager to get some pay back for the damage inflicted, surged forwards and charged towards Nagato.
"Seems so. Tsugu, send a message to Naval Headquarters – we have engaged the IJN Nagato"
"Captain, I have a lock on the Nagato using Radar guidance" Tama announced as she spoke into one the rear bulkhead mounted phones.
"You positive?" Mashiro blinked in surprise.
"Aye, Ma'am"
"Then by all means" Akeno nodded with a killer grin on her face, "Open fire"
A/N:
So, they have found the Nagato…
I look forward to your reviews
Regards,
Pixel and Stephanie