The Flagship of My Heart [Chapter 3] Revision #2 Aug. 30, 2015

The harbor gate evaporated as the first set of bombs pelted the barrier, smoke billowing out of what had once been a steel reinforced concrete structure as thick as a city block. The assailants' propellers whirred as they recovered from the dive.

"So causing ruin to this port once was not enough to satisfy you, now you wish to cast it back into the sea?!", the old man cursed.

Just as he did so, the squadron circled back their fog markings showing a sickly yellow against the night sky, then the roar of machine guns as the planes began to pelt the deck.

Purple hexagons came to their defense, the photon beams dissipating harmlessly through the field. A low hum passed through the port. Then the world erupted into light, as purple filled the skies of Yokosuka. The squadron evaporated as the high-angle guns of Kongou sprang to life, returning the squadron into silver sand.

"These-", she gestured to the falling aircraft, "are not mine, nor should they be here."

"Kongou, additional contacts, bearing 045, ETA 15 minutes.", Iona responded.

As she said so, a blue pillar rose from the port, her dive fins extended.

"Blue Steel, soar buoy 131 detecting surface fleet. Shizuka is analyzing the sonar data now.", Iona said.

"Your supreme flagship seems keen on attacking us.", Gunzou noted.

"This is not her. This is provocation.", Kongou said. Yamato dispatched one ship, not herself. "If she had any intention of erasing this place, she would have done so herself-and we-would not be alive to contemplate her intent."

"SBD Dauntless, Dive Bomber, American.", the submarine said.

"Assault and Suppression vessels from the Pacific fleet?", Kongou said.

"Unable to confirm, the sonar bouy has been destroyed.", she said, her eyes returned to their usual blue, as she cut the connection.

"Fog fighting fog.", the old man rubbed his beard.

"It's not as uncommon as you'd think", Gunzou smiled.

"Disagreements and factions.", he spoke calmly.

A set of double chirps sounded from them.

Kongou turned to them, "This is no longer your concern."

"Fleet of Fog Auxiliary Assault and Suppression Vessel, Hornet, explain your self.", Kongou demanded.

They were in the Concept Communication System's reality again. The tea table still where it always was, but the gazebo was gone. The columns replaced by the open fields of flowers that stretched on into infinity.

"Hmm, it's always business with you Flagship-types. It's kind of annoying ya know.", the blonde mental model sat down her beer mug on the coffee table.

Dressed in a simple black/yellow, striped shirt, her jeans were missing patches, exposing her milky complexion to the world. She rocked back and forth in her chair, propping her legs on the tea table.

Uncultured wretch, Kongou glared.

"I am not here for your comfort-"

"Not that I'd want you", she retorted. Kongou narrowed her eyes. The insinuation was not lost on the former flagship.

"State your business.", Kongou demanded.

Hornet's eyes drifted onto Iona, her gaze lingering all too uncomfortably. She kicked off the table, and landed before the submarine.

"You're an odd one.", Hornet began. "An odd one, that spreads her oddness."

"I am only following my Captain's orders.", she replied.

"And there's yer problem.", Hornet crossed her arms. "That little man's son has yall on the ropes."

"Sinking the first flagship of the second patrol fleet, then sinking the second fleet flagship's subordinates, and then", she shot a thumb at Kongou.

"Making tea kettle over there blow her top-", Kongou lifted her by the collar, and slammed her into a pillar. The field warped, and in a flash the columns of the old CCS came back into existence, covered in their thorny veil.

"Like I said" , she grunted in battleship's vice grip. "Businesslike as always."

"Why are you here?", she demanded.

"A better question would be, why are you here?", another had joined the room.

"Wasp.", she released the struggling Hornet, who sauntered over to where Wasp stood. Iona did the same, nearing Kongou.

"What business does a former Fleet Flagship have, sitting in a human port, allowing herself to be detained by humans, and seeking parley with the human captain of that...thing.", she was referring to Iona of course.

If Iona was insulted in anyway, she chose not to show it. After all, she was used to being underestimated. Her attacker looked taller than Hornet. Glasses, yellow jacket, black tube top, and gray, pleated skirt, long, curly brown hair. This was the mental model of the other assault and suppression vessel.

Kongou stepped forward, "My business is to find the Supreme Flagship. I do not need to explain my methods to you."

"No, in fact you don't. Your incompetence is quite plain, seeing as you cannot even sink your little play mate when she's cruising line abreast to you."

"Seriously, you oriental fleet ships have some serious problems.", Hornet spat. "Can't even hit the broadside of a barn"

"As for the Supreme Flagship, she has abandoned you.", Kongou blanched at her statement.

"What.", she said.

"Isn't it obvious. The entire Oriental fleet is in disarray. The second patrol fleet is no more, Hiei is limping her way back from Midway, and the other two aren't even ships anymore. Only Ise's and Nagato's fleet remain, and they are spread thin, burying the gaps you've left behind in your little tantrum.", she gave a haughty grin. "Seeing as the Supreme Flagship is one of you in the oriental fleet, she's probably ashamed to have even left you to manage this theater."

"Come Kongou, lock down your weapons, and surrender yourself, and you may still remain a part of the fleet.", Wasp offered a hand.

Kongou's fist tightened.

Wasp retracted her hand, "Alternatively, sink I-401 and prove you are still loyal."

"Hornet, Wasp. You have come here then-to sink us.", a loud clapping resounded through the columns.

"How astute of you little blue submarine.", Wasp let her hands fall to her sides.

"Sink us?", Kongou said.

"Don't think we haven't been watching you", Wasp said, "Aiding the humans by delivering that warhead to them. By your hand many of our fleet have perished, and by your hand more will soon follow."

"In short, your death warrants 're signed, and Kongou's hands aren't clean either.", Hornet said.

"Precicely.",Wasp said. "Surrender your codes Kongou, or perish with that-thing.",Wasp held out a hand.

"I decline",

"Then it's high time we put you interlopers in your place", the carrier adjusted her glasses, the opaque reflection cast mirrors of the other two. "At the bottom of the sea."

A silence passed, then a refined chuckling drawled out from the battleship.

"Why is she laughing?", Hornet turned to Wasp, "WHY IS SHE LAUGHING?"

"Silence you fool.", Wasp spat back.

Kongou stifled herself, "You are quite the pair of insects."

The carriers tensed.

"You brought an entire task force to silence a battleship and a submarine, and yet have the gall to lecture me in shame and incompetence.", she leveled her gaze at the two carriers, and grinned very so slightly, with barely contained fury.

"We have learned from your mistakes. We will not underestimate either of you.", Wasp countered.

"You have learned nothing.", Kongou stepped forth, and the carriers, backed away. "You may feel yourself righteous-Confident even-But you will fall, just as I did, and then you will realize your folly. "

"Learn my place?", she said evenly. "My place is right here. Between you and Iona."

She glowered at them as the reality around them faded into white, ending their connection.

"Negotiations have failed completely.", Iona said.

"Sonar boy 131 was destroyed.", Shizuka said. "Displaying last known transmission."

24 distinct red blips appeared in formation, on the chart plot.

"Heh, I suppose there are some things that don't change.", Kyouhei said. "They never make it easy for us."

"There haven't been any major undersea quakes, so this should be fairly accurate.", he said.

"Not meaning any insult in anyway, but are you sure its fine that we keep him on board?", Iori said, her screen showing prominently in the bottom corner of the main screen.

"He's not armed, and he asked to be brought along. I'm watching him so it should be fine.", Iona assured her.

"If you say so, Iona.", she looked skeptical, but returned to her work station. Iona #2 gave the thumbs up, as she passed carrying a wrench.

"I-401", Kita addressed her, he stood off to the side of the bridge, by an empty alcove. "What is this station?"

"When the bridge was reconstructed, an extra station existed there for the engineer. However, Iori decided the best place for an engineer to be was in the engine, rather than on the bridge.", Iona said. "It was kept for aesthetic purposes."

"May I?", he asked. Iona turned to Gunzou, who nodded in affirmation.

The boxes that occupied the space melted into the floor, as a new chair came to be at the now empty station.

"I'd like a chart blot of the area, and a reading on the enemy formation, please.", silver sand went to work as he dictated his needs. The soft symphony of clicks resounding like shards of fine glass in a tumbler. Three panels came to be, a small control console, and a few other readouts came to be.

"Auxilliary tactical station 1 has been constructed.", Iona said.

He gave the captain a small smile, perhaps he was enjoying himself a little too much today.

"Kongou is hailing us.", Shizuka said.

"Patch it through.", he said.

"This- is my mistake.", she said. "I had thought that my rouge status and withdrawal from the joint tactical network would allow me to do as I pleased."

"They came here to sink me.", Iona said. Silence permeated the bridge. Iona did not speak often beyond what you asked her, consequently whenever she spoke, everyone listened. "You were just in the wrong place, at the wrong time."

Kongou's line was silent for what seemed to be a small eternity.

"You helped me, not too long ago.", she said. "I will cover your retreat. Escape."

"I won't do that.",Iona said.

"My probability of success is too low. I have run the simulations. Tactics will only take you so far against superior numbers. Your survival is ensured so long as you do not engage Hornet and Wasp, and I hold them in check.", Kongou said. "Only one of us can escape."

"I refuse..", Iona said.

"Do you not value the humans aboard you? They will perish if you fight them all.", Kongou said.

"You will perish if in my place if I leave!", Iona said.

"...Yes.", Kongou said.

"...There is a piano on your deck..", Iona said.

"Yes.",Kongou said.

"Chihaya Gunzou.", she said. "Do you believe we can win."

Gunzou, overwhelmingly superior numbers, the answer was quite obvious.

"I have faith in my ship.", he declared. "We'll sink them here."

The flight deck was damn windy. Not that breeze that carries hair romantically into the distance kind of windy. It was the 'my clothes are trying to tear themselves off my body' kind of windy, and Hornet was damn well annoyed by it.

She polarized her clothing, the low hum of a magnetic field lost to the wind, as the clothing stuck to maintain her modesty. Wasp sailed line abreast to her, maintaining speed at 80 knots.

[Wasp]: She is confident.

The sickly yellow histograms circled around her. Graviton sensors still registered Kongou and I-401 just outside the port perimeter.

[Hornet]:She's a damned bitch who doesn't know when to give up is what she is.

[Wasp]:Language.

[Hornet]: Fuck you too.

[Wasp]:Well we agree on one thing.

[Hornet]: Whoa there, didn't think you rolled that way.

Wasp's five inch guns changed bearings , pointing directly at Hornet. Who reluctantly held up her hands and started backing away.

[Wasp]: She is a bitch. A bitch who bit the hand that fed her, and bitches like that need to be put down.

The sea began to churn below them.

"Engine sounds are increasing in Wasp and Hornet.

"That...is not fair.", Kyouhei said.

"Wasp and Hornet no longer appear on sonar." Shizuka said.

"On screen", the chart plot disappeared, replaced by the yellowish glows of the two assault and suppression vessels-their hulls alight as thrusters spat forth force-enough to lift them free of gravity.

"They can fly?", Sou said. "Cataloging the data"

"Correct, Assault and Suppression Vessels are capable of sustained flight.", Kongou's voice cut through the tension.

"Engine sounds from the escort vessels are increasing, prepare for incoming.", Shizuka said.

The first shells crumpled harmlessly against Kongou's Klein barrier. I-401 began to dive.

"However, their planes are of little threat to us.", she said. "It is likely they will attempt to surround and envelop us with their superior numbers, saturate our Klein fields and sink us."

"We cannot engage them directly or we risk envelopment", Gunzou upped his chin.

"What about sniping them with the Super Gravity Cannon?", Kyouhei suggested.

"Super Gravity Cannons aren't good for sniping moving targets.", Iona countered.

"They'll see it coming too.", Gunzou said.

"Shizuka, plot the positions of Wasp and Hornet, on the radar, and overlay with the sonar data.", the screen shifted as the two plots were unified.

"Its likely only our graviton signature can be detected by the enemy ASV's.", she noted.

"They're probably using the sensors on the escort ships.", Iona said.

"Hm, Kongou, how well can you hold up against the escort vessels?",A long pause, punctuated only by the loud beeps from Iona's core, indicating access to the Joint Tactical Network.

"I estimate my chances of escaping unscathed at the end are...close to 15.333365%.", she said, an imperceptible hint of sadism in her tone. "I also estimate by then they would have been crippled beyond the ability to continue."

Kyouhei whistled approvingly.

"Very well, Kongou will engage the surface escort fleet. We will sink the enemy ASV's.", Gunzou said.

"Engine limiters are already off.",Iori sounded off.

"Tubes ready", Kyouhei said.

"The escort vessels have moved into defensive screening positions.", Shizuka said.

"Klein field and wave force armor are holding at minimal saturation levels.", Sou said.

"Blue Steel, begin the operation.", Gunzou said.

Four, 356mm. photon cannons unfurled, crackling with energy as it lanced outward, punching through the light cruiser's field like an eggshell, melting the superstructure like butter, and landing a glancing blow on the destroyer just aft.

"Sink", she demanded. Her targeting systems launched low yield thanatonium warheads, mixed with regular warheads. Her Klein field sparked to life as hexagonal units dissipated a photon beam aimed at her aft battery, a thanatonium reaction that detonated near her machinery spaces.

Then three more thanatonium reactions along her port torpedo belt, the assailants zooming overhead. Her high angle guns, pelted the sky -eviscerating the planes as they tried to flee. Then she spotted the second squadron circling from her aft. The hexagonal caps of her port thrusters slid aside as they flared to life, turning her starboard in a side kick spitting foam in her wake. Plumes of smoke rose from her broadside as her 14 inch guns recoiled, sending projectiles down range.

She let the shells travel just until they intercepted the lead plane, before letting the remote fuse detonate, sending flaming shrapnel into the unprotected, remote controlled squadron.

Then the third and fourth squadron hit, her hull depressed into the water, as the thanatonium warheads, hit her square in the mast, black spheres crackled with energy, as the hexagons around them fought to neutralize the decomposition of gravitons.

"Ready to sink yet, old hag?", Hornet said.

Kongou laughed mockingly, "I have only just begun to fight."

Her processor was hot, coolant flooded the chamber that housed her core, yet the rhythmic beat of her unit, only quickened its pace.

This was her element. -War- was the place of a weapon- but she was more than that now. She was Kongou, and Kongou was her. And she demanded retribution, for this insult. To insult her was low, but excusable. She had already been laid low by the betrayals of her own kind, insults were paltry. However to openly threaten that which was her's...

Interlopers, another set of warheads, ripped into a squadron- setting another Fletcher to burn as the warheads ripped through it's already taxed Klein field.

Then they slammed her with them. 1032, warheads fired from both ASV's. Her high angle batteries tore through most of the barrage, but them more and more, came from the remaining cruisers and destroyers that flanked her aft.

It did not stop.

"Nothing could have survived that.", Hornet said.

The smoke cleared. Only fire remained. Her turrets exploded again, and again. Futilely trying to charge again, she listed starboard, and kept going. The massive holes in her belly, clearly apparent as her mast struck water. Containment breaches in her reactor, and the final detonation sank her beneath the waves.

[=]

"Kongou's engine sounds have gone silent.", Shizuka said.

"Fire."

)=(

"Well that was easy enou-," the brilliant blue beam slammed into her port side.

"Hang on!", Wasp brought her hull near, ramming Hornet from below. Nudging her companion, and bearing the brunt of the super gravity cannon.

)=(

"Firing complete, targets Hornet and Wasp have sustained minor damage. Klein fields at critical levels.", Iona announced.

"We have incoming, 20. 30. 100- warheads and counting have impacted the water.", Shizuoka said.

"load counter measures into rear tubes. Kyouhei, counter battery solution in high pressure warheads, tubes three and four.", he leaned into the side panel. Iona, close the distance. This ends here", he set the red markers on the screen with an even look. The counter just passed 200. Well, at least this makes it easy.

Her Klein field angled forward, diverting the flow of water beyond the hydrodynamic efficiency of her nano material hull. The rear thrusters unfolded, graviton reactor chambers twisted into place, and Iori engaged the engineer's protective field around her station.

In the darkness beneath the waves, fellow ghost lights flared into burning contrails. Her 25mm deck guns opened up, cutting into the first wave of warheads, then the second wave came, and the third, and the fourth. High pressure warheads flared forward, exploding as she dove beneath the false target the nanomaterial soup created.

Finally, the explosions saturated the sonar plot that she silently sank beneath the waves.

"Shit.", Wasp said. Devoting some more processing power she willed the squadrons into formation. Taking them into her hangers quickly. Planes would be of little use against a submarine.

"We were a little too trigger happy there...", Hornet clutched her side. It was a grazing hit from that little blue shit, but it still managed to eat into her field. Sensors were shot, and the water was too churned up by the exploding torps that the rest of the barrage lost track of the I-401, and instead retargeted the next closest thing to a submarine there was in the water, each other.

"The next targeting solution will be manually plotted in real time.", Her form crackled, the hexagons of her nanomaterials showing on her mental model. There would be no mistakes this time.

)=(

"Klein field saturation at 67% Anymore and we would still be detectable.", sou said.

"Haha- well this is bad.", Kyouhei noted.

"We've been through worse.", Gunzou said.

"Define worse, in three sentences or less."

"Zordan Stark.", Gunzou's eyes narrowed.

"Surface fleet has moved away from enemy ASV's, imminent ASW most likely.", Shizuka said.

Kyouhei winced a little, "Sorry I asked."

"No its fine. Let's sink them here so we can move on to more important matters.", Gunzou shook his head, warding off the thoughts of that infuriating German.

A hearty laugh came from the auxiliary tactical console.

"It amazes me how you speak of victory as though you have already won, while your present circumstance depicts assured defeat."

A pregnant pause.

"If you are weak, feign strength. If you are strong, feign weakness," he looked up at the screen.

The chart blot registered the surface fleet was halfway to their position.

"Shizuka, mute headphones."

)=(

Ping...

"I have you.", Wasp said. Her flight deck parted into four quadrants, its surface gave way to rows upon rows of missile silos. Thanatonium, all of them.

"Haha, looks like she gave up after all. This'll be a turkey shoot.", Hornet let her targeting systems come under the control of Wasp. With her sensors shot this was all she could do. It was overkill sure, but that little shit submarine hooked her a good one, and that was something that needed to be repaid.

"Goodbye I-401", they launched, filling the sky in plumes of smoke as they raked through the air to find the water, and from the water, the I-401.

Plink- Plink- Rriiiiippppppppp!

"What the fu-", Wasp struggled to keep her balance as her hull lurched sideways. She saw hornet was getting closer. A lot closer. Oh hell are those her pan-.

"Shi-", Hornet plowed into Wasp, much like how her prow was plowing onto the stern of her friends hull, tilting their decks at odd angles towards the sea.

Straddling Wasp to keep them both from falling into the depths. Her compainon's mentsl model was unresponsive. The missiles she ,aunched were still going. Using her mental model, she ran a diagonosic check... Booting. Shit. She looked down, her hand was coated in red, white wisps rising from the stain. Coolant.

"You're overheating...",Then she saw them.

The chains that shot up from beneath the waves. Their thrusters retched power, but there was no escape. Yellow hexagons slammed into the chains only to be met by purple klein units and shredded. The anchors in their hulls weren't going anywhere.

The sea parted as a pillar of purple rose from the depths, its maw crackling with degenerating gravitons. The containment rings in her hull unfolded, her reactors feeding energy into them. Dark energy streaked around Kongou.

)=(

"If victory is assured, pretend to stand at the edge of defeat"

"Critical degeneracy at 87%.", Iona said.

"Kongou how are you holding up?", he smiled.

"They are resisting...futilely.", he could almost feel the smile she no doubt was wearing beyond the com line.

"Let's not be idle", Gunzou said.

"The surface fleet has reversed course", Shizuka said.

"Kyouhei, tubes three and four corrosive torpedoes, regular warheads for the rest. Have the secondary battery handle the return fire.", he said. "Iona."

"Targeting solutions for Kongou's super gravity cannon completed.", she said. The sigils on her face shining brightly against the dim lighting of the bridge.

)=(

"You bitch!", Hornet spat. "YOU! BITCH!"

Missiles spat forth from h remaining launchers, their target, that bitch.

Missiles were met with missiles, and then chains tightened. Metal bent as the two ships were forced closer and closer together.

Kongou heaved at the chains with all her might. If she were a more humor inclined mental model, she would think it was almost comical how she had roped herself some buckaroos.

She saw the missiles coming ages ago..

Resistance is futile.

-and she swatted them out of the sky.

Kongou held up a hand, of which only one finger was raised at attention.

Every sensor Hornet had remaining screamed:CRITICAL DEGENERACY ACHIEVED, HIGH ENERGY REACTION.

She smiled bitterly, cradling Wasp in her arms.

Then her world flooded with purple.

)=(

In the name of the code I command you- STOP.

)=(

And we will stop here for today because I am tired.

The night battle over Yokosuka, as promised. It too me s long time and for that I am sorry.(not really sorry)

As always please review and tell me your thoughts if you like.

I hope that your ship battles are to your liking. Also I understand thst the random is not too keen on liking OCs please understand that it was nessessary to create conflict to get the story rolling. For now Hornet and Wasp are just the villains of the week.

I'm also sorry that we didn't get any GunzouXYamato action. Please understand that I am trying to get to the romance, but I needed to set up the scene. I. WILL. GET. THEM. TO. KISS. Accept no substitucions.