Hello Trades46 here,
While Secrets from the Abyss: Altruist Wonders is in long development before the chapters will be posted, I'll continue to throw random tidbits here.
Enjoy:
The Cat Came Back
October 24, 1942 - Maizuru Naval base - 8:20am
"Hey Asashio, do you see what I see?" Fubuki calls to the idling destroyer girl beside her on the docks near their ships. She was preparing earlier for an expedition run along with destroyer Asashio, Shiranui and Maikaze. However, just as she loaded all her cargo aboard, she caught sight of a bad premonition. Asashio stops loading her supplies and glances at the direction Fubuki is pointing at.
"Yes, I see her too…" Asashio mutters, her voice becoming more dejected at the notion of what is going to happen in the near future. She drops her ammunition cache she was carrying onboard, letting out an annoyed sigh, concluding "…and I kind of wish I didn't."
The "her" in question is a seemingly normal looking black and white kitten, strolling casually along the Maizuru docks without a care in the world. Unaffected by the morning tide splashes along the coast, the feline continues to walk around the harbor, ignoring the morning activity of ground crew and Ship Girls alike. However, the old residents of Maizuru like Asashio and Fubuki, the appearance of 'her' already is a wet blanket end to today's operations. However, the newcomers Shiranui and Maikaze does not understand the reason Fubuki and Asashio stops preparing for the expedition.
"Oi!" Shiranui calls out loudly, waving her hand at the two stalled destroyer girls, "What the hell are you two waiting for? The expedition will set off in another 15 minutes! Are you two daft or what?"
Maikaze does not take notice, happily dancing around her destroyer's deck after getting ready for the OP early in the morning. The Kagero-class dancer is extremely excited about her first expedition with only Ship Girls ever since her arrival at Maizuru, and her face shows the same expression as a little girl whose parents promised her to buy her a gift later in the day. Meanwhile, Asashio shakes her head at the angry Shiranui, who begins to grumble impatiently about the lack of discipline at this 'crappy base'.
"You can stop preparations Shiranui-san," begins Asashio matter-of-factly. "There will be no more operation today, so you can just relax a bit and take some time off either practicing or resting." Shiranui looks perplexed, her expression of utter confusion. Maikaze heard the conversation, her expression flabbergasted as much as her Kagero-class sister ship. The dancer begins to speak, in a discouraging tone.
"What…how do you even, I mean, Rear-admiral Sekimoto assigned us destroyers to depart today at 8:45am for a fuel expedition. How can you be sure…?" Fubuki comes over the group, ushering Shiranui and Maikaze to the direction of the cat.
"Me and Asashio are sure, because of 'her'." Fubuki points at the cat specifically, who sat down on her back scratching her face with her legs. "We named that cat "Error", simply every time she appears, something happens in the Imperial Command which prevents any naval operations to take place." Asashio nods in agreement to Fubuki's claim.
"It sounds odd, yes I'm aware of that. However, this is not the first or second time Error shows up. The thing is, every time Error is here, this means that today's operations, whether they are sorties, expeditions, even mock training battles, will definitely be cancelled."
Shiranui and Maikaze looks at each other, not understanding what to make of the situation. Maikaze's cheeks puffs up and Shiranui covers her face with her hands. Soon, both Kagero-class destroyers begin to laugh uncontrollably.
"HAHAHAA!…What…what really? Do you Maizuru base really believe in ridiculously stupid superstitions like that? HAHAAA!" Maikaze hollers, gasping at her stomach.
"He he…so just because a random stray cat shows up you dimwits are throwing in the towel? What kind of logic is that?" Shiranui states, recovering quicker than her sister from her laughing fit.
Asashio and Fubuki both give disgruntled looks at the new destroyers as Lieutenant Commander Asuka Shiba appears from the command office. The destroyer Ship Girls immediately form a line, saluting the commanding officer. However, Asashio quickly notes that Asuka's face is not that of a CO who is blessing the Destroyer Division a safe expedition, but that something is wrong.
"Please, at ease everyone," Asuka begins, her voice seemingly rather tired for an officer at 7:30am in the morning. "There has just been word sent in by a reconnaissance unit near the expedition route earlier this morning. Submarine I-72 spotted possible battleship formations at the relay point, so Imperial HQ decided the operation is deemed too risky for a DesDiv to operate in nearby waters. Therefore, the expedition and today's sorties are all cancelled while Sasebo's 2nd fleet will take over in clearing up the operation area."
Asashio and Fubuki salutes with authority, whereas Shiranui and Maikaze can only stare on speechlessly as Asuka apologizes to them for her inability to let the Kagero-class destroyers show their potential in their first operation since their arrival at Maizuru. Soon Asuka gives a final bow before turning back towards her office. Shiranui literally has steam coming out of not only her funnels, but her head.
"Where is that damn cat? I'll put a freaking 25mm at her head! I swear!" Shiranui curses as Maikaze holds her back. Asashio and Fubuki simply walks off, now beginning to wonder how they would spent the rest of their day.
November 12, 1942 - Ominato Naval base - 12:25pm
"Batsubyou! You came back!" Asagumo cries as the small black and white feline happily runs towards her owner. Asagumo opens her arms as the cat jumped into her embrace. "I missed you so much, please don't go running off again OK?" Asagumo asks the kitten, stroking her head in the process. The infamous Maizuru 'Error' cat responds with a tired 'nyan' before promptly falling asleep in Asagumo's arms.
"Asagumo! It is nearly time to sortie, hurry up!" The destroyer leader of Ominato Yamagumo calls towards her sister ship.
"Yes, I'll be right there!" Asagumo replies, returning quickly to her dorm to drop off Batsubyou before her expedition begins.
Monthly Girls' Naval Publications
October 26, 1943 - Maizuru naval offices - 3:15pm
German admiral Kurt Gunther taps his fingers at his desk in his provisional office provided by Vice-Admiral Fujioka Sekimoto in the Maizuru executive offices. An annoyed expression is plastered on his face, the drumming of his fingers continue to get louder.
"Kapitän, are you sure you don't want us…" the German battleship girl Bismarck asks behind him, only to be cut off by Kurt's hand gesture.
"Nein Bismarck. It is ze duty of a Kreigsmarine Kriegsschiff Mädchen to be on time and report to ze officer in a timely manner…this ze unannehmbar!" Kurt slams his fists on the table, surprising Bismarck and scaring the ship girls that just entered the room: the carrier Graf Zeppelin and heavy cruiser Graf Spee. Kurt looks up, but his expression remains sour as he mutters 'not ze one he is looking for'. Graf Zeppelin looks his their admiral worryingly as Graf Spee turns towards her sister Bismarck, asking her in a quiet voice.
"Schwester Bismrack, who is it that is causing such grief to our Kapitän?" Before the battleship can answer, Kurt overhears and exclaims loudly, shouting in a mix of Japanese and German.
"It ze that unreliable Admiral-Hipper class heavy cruiser! That…!" Kurt is interrupted again as the door of the office slams open, running in a sweaty and panting Prinz Eugen. Trying to recover her breath, she bends over, quickly apologizing to the angry German admiral.
"Es tut mir leid Admiral Gunther! I had to take care of other business before I could..." Prinz Eugen quickly explains, but Kurt's anger cuts her off mid-sentence, speaking in a low but solemn tone.
"Bismarck, you are ze secretary so you stay. Everyone else, step out of the room immediately." Graf Zeppelin and Graf Spee already experienced the rare but extremely scary anger tantrums of the Admiral before, so not saying a word, the carrier and heavy cruiser quietly and quickly left the room, closing the door behind them with the three in the room. Pausing for a moment, Kurt begins to scream.
"That was ze ORDER Eugen! Who do you, a proud addition to our glorious Kreigsmarine Kriegsschiff Mädchen selected by ze fatherland and the approval of ze Führer himself to represent out glorious nation to ze Japanishe people, DARE to keep your commanding officer waiting for TWO HOURS! The summoning was an ORDER! UNANNEHMBAR!" Kurt immediately stands up, throwing his pens at the table. "Where have ze lost your honor, Prinz Eugen? What sort of business ze so important you are late for my summoning for TWO HOURS! EXPLAIN!"
Prinz Eugen is definitely taken aback, knowing full well she unleashed the wrath of Kurt's rarely shown anger. She begins to choke and tear up, trying her best to stay steadfast and start explaining.
"I…I was working for someone…he had a deadline to meet…I didn't mean to be late…*sniff*" Bismarck stood still despite the shouting, rapidly trying to think a way to save her dear sister. Looking around she quickly notices a very large black stain on Prinz Eugen's skirt.
"Prinz, what is that on your skirt?" Bismarck quickly asks, hoping to break the angry shouting of Kurt to another subject. Prinz Eugen, still tearful, looks up at Bismarck before glancing down at her skirt. 'Ah' her facial expression changes. Kurt isn't finished, as he grabs her skirt forcefully, pointing at it.
"Not only that, you seem not to have even having groomed yourself properly! What…*sniff*…is this ink?" Prinz Eugen looks sideways, unable to deny the truth but unwilling to tell the reason. However, she does need to, as a knock on the door interrupts the talk.
"I said I do not want to be disturbed!" Kurt shouts at the door.
"Kapitän, there is a Japanische man here who wants to speak to you and Prinz Eugen here. He said you made a mistake." Kurt is about to deny it but Bismarck starts first.
"Kapitän Gunther, I think it is more fair if we hear what the man has to say. I think that way we can understand the situation more rationally."
Kurt gives a silent nod unwillingly as Prinz Eugen gives thanks to Bismarck, sending a sigh to the distressed but grateful heavy cruiser to escape the angry admiral's rant.
October 26, 1943 - Maizuru naval offices - 3:35pm
"WHAT?!" Kurt and the rest of the German Kreigsmarine ship girls cry out when the man, Mr. Kenta explains the situation to the Germans. Prinz Eugen can only twirl her fingers embarrassingly, uncomfortable her 'secret' has been exposed. Mr. Kenta is the head publisher for a monthly Magazine released in Maizuru as one of the local publications distributed to the naval ground crew of news, events, the wartime ongoing along with a special section short picture book known as 'manga'. Graf Zeppelin scratches her head, asking in response.
"Sorry Mr. Kenta, but what is this 'manga' you speak of? So is a pictures making a story?"
"Yes, it is a new Japanese art which is different and more entertaining than a regular book; the younger generation working at Maizuru love it. However, manga takes time to make: someone does the story, another does the artwork, someone edits and above all, someone must color and fill in the details." Kenta ushers Prinz Eugen closer, her face rapidly growing red in embarrassment. "Couple days ago, our assistant suddenly called in sick…and then…"
October 22, 1943 - Near Maizuru Publishing office; a mile away from port - 1:00pm (Flashback)
"Kenta-san! Toru called in sick now and now we're really shorthanded. We might have to skip this issue's manga pages!" One of the workers in the publishing calls to the chief. Kenta scratches his head, running out of ideas what to do. He doesn't want to give up on the manga section as it is rapidly becoming a major selling point, but there isn't simply enough personnel to get the manuscript done. The editorial staff is also unable to help, but who else can lend a hand in such short notice yet still meet requirements?
Chief Kenta takes a step out of the editorial office for a quick smoke, wondering what to do. As he stares at the docks in the distance, he notices a orange-blonde haired girl in a Kreigsmarine uniform sitting by a tree…sketching an extremely detailed scenery of Maizuru naval district in her hands with a set of pencils. Kenta wasted no time.
"Miss! You seem to be really good at drawing. Can you please listen to my request and perhaps you can lend us your help?" Prinz Eugen looks up at Kenta, at first giving him a blank stare followed by a "EHH?"
October 26, 1943 - Maizuru naval offices - 4:00pm
Kurt sits back down on his chair, calming down after Kenta left with a free copy of this month's issue of "Maizuru Monthly" magazine. The rest of the Kreigsmarine girls are leafing through the magazine, reading this Japanese invention of 'manga'.
"Wow, Schwester Prinz Eugen, you drew all of this! It is wunderbar!" Graf Zeppelin exclaims. Z1 and Z20 nods in agreement, where Z33's eyes are too glued to the pages to even respond. Prinz Eugen scratches her hair sheepishly.
"Well, I didn't 'draw' it per say, but I just did the tones and the inking along with some small details here and there…"
Kurt coughs, bringing the rest of the Kreigsmarine girls to attention. Bismarck gives a reassuring smile towards Prinz Eugen as Kurt begins.
"Well, it looks like I may be in ze wrong here. Verzeihung Prinz Eugen for shouting at you and getting angry without understand your reasoning behind it." Kurt pauses, thinking how to convey his point next. "However, the disregard of time to ze Kapitän is still a severe offense, and I shall think of a suitable punishment. However, as publisher Kenta says on your regard, I shall take into consideration of zit and keep it light."
Prinz Eugen face brightened, bowing down and thanking Kurt for his generosity. However, he was not finished.
"Also, Kenta requested that if ze time allows and you have no standing operations, I Admiral Kurt Gunther will allow you, Kriegsschiff Prinz Eugen to the publishing department to aid in ze "Maizuru Monthly" magazine. However, you are a Kreigsmarine ship first, do not ever forget that. Is ze clear?"
Prinz Eugen happily salutes to Kurt, "Yes Kapitän!"
The inspiration for the first drabble is based off of the "Error-musume" fellow Kancolle players sometime run into.
EDIT: A recent comment on an error girl's true identity (therefore the owner) of the cat known as Batsubyou, I decided to add the small thing in.
The second is based off of the popular anime "Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun", where the female MC Sakura Chiyo shares an uncanny resemblance to Prinz Eugen and even to the point they share the same VA (Ozawa Ari). I felt like I had to do something here.
Yes, the scene is directly inspired from the Internet meme of a certain angry German shouting at people.
Review and feedback welcome.
-Trades46 out