Hello again readers, Trades46 here.
Due to various circumstances, I'm able to make a quick update. This will be the last 'naval combat' scene in a while so hope you enjoy it.
Here is the first appearance of Ship Girls of Kantai Collection: Secrets from the Abyss: Origins.
P.S. The cover image used in the story is the cover art for Battlestations: Midway. This game highly inspired me to write this fanfic despite never playing Kancolle. If you even 1/2 as much as a naval warfare fan as I'm, do take a look.
August 6, 1942 (Same day) - Sea of Japan, 60 miles off-coast - 1pm
Fujioka continues to lookout for the enemy fleet with his binoculars on the spotting tower of Unryu, his flagship of the fleet. Ship Girl Unryu is standing beside Fujioka, with her eyes closed, driving the carrier without a human crew running & calling about. The Ship Girl's fairies are hovering about the deck of Unryu, preparing the A6M Zero fighters, whom are also now piloted by fairies. Atago is in the front of the group with Asashio beside her, Hokaze & Shimakaze to the left & right of the carriers & Sumire guarding the rear.
To both Fujioka and Asuka, the feeling of sailing with Ship Girls and not with a human crew is odd, in about the same way as a car that drives itself. There is no crew calling out bearings, no helmsman, no gunnery officer, no spotters etc. In fact, the only humans aboard the fleet are the Vice Admiral and the Lt. Commander. Otherwise, the ships are running by the Ship Girls, while the other minor things are all done by fairies.
According to Shokaku, who explained it the best: a fairy is a small dwarfs-sized spirit of a girl that floats about to help Ship Girls carry out tasks. The fairies are an extension to the Ship Girls themselves, who do the duties of running the mechanical bits of the ship. Some small things, like manning & aiming of the main guns, plotting a course and operating the electronics aboard a ship can be done mentally by Ship Girls. For bigger things like damage control, AA guns & more importantly for carriers, the flight crew, they are all operated by fairies.
Fairies also have an uncanny ability to appear & disappear around the ship, only coming out when a Ship Girl deems it necessary. Asuka is so surprised at the beginning of Asashio deploying her fairies to feed her boilers, and when Asuka turned around to disappear, she thought she was still asleep.
The human commanding officers are brought to attention again. Unryu quickly opens her eyes, scanning the bow port-side. "Admiral, the radars have contact, ~65,000m and closing. 4 targets. 2 small, 1 medium, 1 large."
Fujioka looks impressed. This was the first time he is out to sea with the a Ship Girl after hearing about their abilities. His eyesight is quite good after spending nearly 25 years in the navy, but even he could not find the enemy before the Ship Girl standing beside him.
"All right," Fujioka lowers his binoculars & picks up his radio. "Well, you heard Unryu. Targets are bearing North 34 degrees West, 65,000m. Atago, get your 20.3cm armed. Shokaku & Zuikaku, launch 4 Zeros & get 15 Suiseis & 15 Tenzans in the air. Unryu will get her 10 Ryuseis in an angle & launch an Anvil attack*. Get going!"
In 15 minutes time, the carriers' attack planes are up in the air & circling the fleet. With Atago's F1M scouting the enemy fleet, the specific coordinates are given to the fairies on-board the aircraft and the attack is soon underway.
"There are 2 Ro-class destroyers, 1 Nu-class CVL &…wow, a Ru-class BB" Atago reads out from her scout floatplane. "They're in a grid formation. No abrupt movements though and no CAP either. Must have slept on the job eh?" Atago closes with a hint of playfulness.
Fujioka grins. "Alright, they won't even know what hit them. All squadrons commence the attack!"
Same day - Sea of Japan, 63miles off-coast - 2pm
The opening skirmish begins as the fairy-flown Imperial Naval air service Suiseis, hidden above the clouds dives vertically down on the unsuspecting Abyssal fleet & drop their 800lb bombs. The resulting explosion smashes their AA guns & DP secondary mounts on the superstructure of both the Ru-class battleship & Nu-class CVL. One bomb is caught in the forecastle of the Ru-class, breaking off her top-level rangefinder in the process.
The Nu-class, seeing the danger, quickly attempts to launch her F4F Wildcat fighters, but the A6M Zeros are able to strafe them as they are taking off, exploding on the unarmored deck of the CVL and setting her on fire. The 2 Ro-class destroyers immediately start spitting out AA fire, but Unryu's flanking Ryusei torpedo bombers sneaks unnoticed at the starboard side of the Abyssal fleet. Each Ro-class destroyer are hit by 2 torpedoes apiece. The Nu-class CVL & Ro DDs quickly succumb to their wounds and all 3 Abyssal ships sink quickly.
The Ru-class BB however remains resilient. She evades 10 of the 12 torpedoes from Shokaku & Zuikaku Tenzan torpedo bombers & while crippled of her primary AA 5"/38 DP guns, she continues to fire her many 40mm MGs at the IJNAS aircraft. Having expelled their ordinances, the planes piloted by the fairies heads back to their carriers. The Ru-class however, follows the line of retreat of the planes, and in the distance she spots the Japanese fleet. Very angry that her fellow ships were so quickly destroyed, she aims her 6 16"/45 main battery at their maximum range & fires in anger.
Fujioka & Unryu were both splashed by the water sprouts created by the projectiles of the Ru-class's 16" guns. He cringes at the fact the Ru-class is still very much alive & looking for revenge. He looks to the decks of his carriers, where the fairies are struggling to get the next group of bombers airborne. The vice-admiral silently curses, and picks up his receiver.
"Atago, get closer & fire your 20.3cm main batteries to stall for time. The carriers needs some time to launch the next wave of bombers."
Atago twitches, knowing she would most likely not escape the fight with an enemy battleship without at least moderate damage. Alas, she acknowledges Fujioka's request & begin training her 20.3cm turrets ahead. Few seconds later, Atago lets out a gasp.
"Admiral, it is terrible! My forward turret number 2 is jammed, I can't aim with it!" Atago cries out over the radio.
"Vice admiral Sekimoto," Asuka quickly interjects, "Atago is having issues training her mount number 2, she'll be at a major disadvantage against a BB in a head-on attack. Leave the Ru-class BB to me; I'm leading the destroyers for a torpedo attack. Hurry and get the bombers in the air!"
Fujioka looks at her on the bridge of Asashio, bewildered. "Asuka are you crazy? You'll have no cover going out there now. Stay back & wait until Shokaku gets her…"
However, Asashio leading Hokaze & Shimakaze already are steaming their way towards the incoming Ru-class. The Ru-class Abyssal spirit on the bridge, seeing the incoming destroyers, immediately turned hard to starboard, training her entire broadside to the pesky "tin cans**".
Fujioka can only do a put his hand on his face, mumbling that Asuka never listens. He silently prays that all will go well. It is not the first time she goes charging at the enemy, but the previous 3 times are going up against enemy destroyers, not a full-sized battlewagon.
Same day - Sea of Japan, 70 miles off-coast - 3pm
16" shells pelt everywhere around Asashio & the other 2 Minekaze-class DDs, however none lands on target. Asuka is quite happy that Zuikaku's & Shokaku's dive bombers had already disabled her entire broadside of 5" DP secondary guns, which are much more effective at close range and fire faster than those oversized 16" main batteries. After all, a tin can destroyer would be as easily destroyed by a well-placed 5" as easily as a 16".
Another blessing is that Asuka notices the smoking remains of what remains of the Ru-class' rangefinder on her mast, indicating the Abyssal battleship is effectively firing blind; relying on her shell splashes to correct and attempt a hit at the small, nimble destroyers.
As the 3 DDs get close enough to be not in direct fire to the Ru-class but enough to launch torpedoes, Asuka calls out "All destroyers, 90 degrees starboard line ahead formation!" Asuka turns around to look at Asashio, the eager Ship Girl behind her.
"Asashio-san, I'll leave the torpedoes to you. Set the running depth at 8m and launch them in a pincer with Hokaze & Shimakaze. I'll take the helm of the ship. Make sure each torpedo counts; even if it doesn't hit, make it so that the BB would be forced to stay perpendicular to us."
Asashio gives a firm salute, "Yes captain, I'll do my duty!".
Asuka goes back to the radio, "Hokaze & Shimakaze. Time your attacks with Asashio. Fire each shot 10 meters apart to her bow & stern so she won't be able to dodge all of them." The older destroyer Ship Girls responded quickly.
Asuka takes to helm of the Asashio, a quick thought thinking when was the last time she had personally commandeered a warship with her own hands. She is immediately brought back to attention when the next salvo of 16" shells lands a little too close for comfort.
"Asashio, where are the torpedoes?" the Lt. Commander calls frantically.
"Firing solution acquired, depth 8m, estimate 30 second running time," Asashio responds, focusing on mentally turning the launchers to port and the final trim adjustments. "Firing tubes 1 through 5... NOW!"
A set of audible 'whooshing' noises are heard near the stern as 5 Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedoes dives into the water. Asuka looks behind to see Hokaze & Shimakaze do the same, albeit with only 3 torpedoes each due to their age and therefore lacks the multi-launching equipment. "5 Fishes*** confirmed in the water." Asashio calls out.
The Ru-class, however angry she is, also must have seen the torpedoes, for she immediately begins to turn hard to starboard. However, the earlier Tenzan strike from Zuikaku must have damaged her rudder, for she is slow at making the turn. Moments later, Asuka confirms 5 individual water sprouts from the portside of the Ru-class. Asashio hi-fives Asuka, doing quick celebration. At the same time, the destroyer's radio also crackles to life.
"This is Unryu. My torpedo bombers are just overhead in attack formation. Stand clear!"
Both Asuka & Asashio looks up just in time to see 10 Ryusei torpedo bombers fly overhead. All of them immediately drops their aerial torpedoes at the now crippled battleship, dead in the water after Asuka's torpedo pincer attack. With her AA guns & engines down, the Abyssal battleship can only watch as all 10 torpedoes smack into her portside with enough force to lift the entire ~30,000ton hulk out of the water for a split second.
"All stop." Calls Asuka, as the 3 destroyers slow down to observe the damage. With torpedo hits from Asashio on her portside & Unryu's Ryusei on her starboard, the Ru-class is now slowly but surely sinking back to the depths bow first. Feeling satisfied, Asuka turns around to order Asashio & the rest to rejoin Fujioka's carriers, when suddenly a bone-chilling screech is emitted from the sinking battleship.
Asuka quickly turns around to see the Ru-class Spirit, barely standing on her stern 16" turrets, cry out in anguish. She also quickly catches the stern turret slowly moving, pointing directly at her.
The Ru-class spirit hisses at her, staring right into the stunned Lt. Commander's eyes.
"FFFOOORR...THE PRINCESS...SSIINNNKKKK!"
"EVERYONE, FLANK SPEED!" Asuka shouts towards her fleet, just as the Ru-class fires her last 3 round salvo from her 16" guns from her barely afloat stern.
The 1st round just barely flies over the bridge of Asashio, exploding on the water 3 meters away from the destroyer, the explosion knocking Asuka & Asashio herself from their feet.
Asuka immediately looks back up, just in time to see Shimakaze get completely vaporized by the exploding 16" shell that hits her dead-center of her hull. In a thundering explosion, she splits loudly in half, both parts sinking in less than 20 seconds.
Hokaze, who 'was' beside her, immediately exploded as the last 16" round goes through her boiler room, rupturing her fuel reserves and spraying fuel oil everywhere on her deck. Immediately the oil ignites, causing a massive fireball to engulf Hokaze.
10 seconds after, all that is left of both vessels are debris of the once-upon a time destroyers.
The Ru-class spirit cackle loudly in triumph as she & the stern of the Abyssal vessel finally disappear from the ocean surface.
Asuka stands very still, unable to encapsulate what just happened. Asashio, recollecting herself after falling over on the bridge, walks out to the catwalk, just in time to catch Asuka as her legs give way and nearly falls over the edge.
"Lt. Commander Shiba, are you alright? Are you hurt?" the Ship Girl asks politely. Asuka can only slowly look at her, and then back where the 2 Minekaze-class once were.
Same day - Sea of Japan, 78 miles off-coast - 4pm
Fujioka, alerted of what just occurred with the Lt. Commander & the Abyssal's last stand via Atago's F1M scout plane, can only look on with a expressionlessly out of the bridge just as Unryu, Shokaku & Zuikaku pull up to the remaining lone destroyer.
Fujioka looks over from the bridge of Unryu, and frowns as he sees Asuka hunched over on the deck unmoving with Asashio looking ever more concerned. The vice-admiral sighs, knowing Asuka's eagerness (or recklessness) going into battle that one day she is going to have to experience such losses who he knew about from experience. He picks up the radio to the rest of the fleet.
"This is vice-admiral Sekimoto, the mission is complete. All ships, set course for home port. We're done here." Fujioka looks down again at Asuka, then turns a knob on the radio to a private frequency. "Destroyer Asashio, can you read me?"
The Ship Girl destroyer picks up, not knowing what the admiral wanted. "Affirmative admiral Sekimoto. What is your command?"
Fujioka silently scoffs, thinking to himself ironically that even the Ship Girl of the vessel she commands sounds exactly like that of her CO.
"Listen, I want you to keep an eye on the Lt. Commander. I think that last attack back there is going to cost her a bit of herself. Keep your eye on her and don't let her do anything stupid. I'll take over after we land in Maizuru, but for now I'm counting on you, Asashio-kun."
Same day - Sea of Japan, 10miles off-coast - 7pm
Asashio stares at the night sky laying down on her front deck as her ship continues to steam back to Maizuru port at a steady 23 knots. After a long day, Fujioka deems it is close enough to the shores for her to stop monitoring the sonar & radars for possible Abyssal ambush, so now she's trailing behind Shokaku and admiring the stars above.
This means she is unaware of Asuka's presence as the now calm CO sits down beside her quietly, staying quiet for the next 2 minutes.
Asashio then notices of her, but before she can speak, Asuka does first, her voice lacking the energy & strength she is generally known for.
"I'm sorry Asashio. For everything. I've been a horrible commander, haven't I?" Asuka sighs as she continues to lament. "I'm always wanting to prove myself on the field, charging in when I'm not supposed to, putting the crew at risk, all so I can make myself look good at the Imperial HQ, just to prove I'm not useless." She looks apologetically at Asashio. "Tell me, do you still see me fit as your Commanding Officer?"
Asashio quickly sits back up and shakes her head. "I believe you are a good Commanding Officer, Shiba-san. Though I only recently gained the ability to talk & feel, when I was first built and commissioned, I already have felt you resolve."
Asashio grabs on to the hands of her CO, looking at her directly in the eyes.
"Lt. Commander Shiba-san, you have to know that you have been a great leader. Though you sometimes question your confidence, you stay strong & resolute when staring down the face of an adversary greater in strength than ours. There are little men that can do what you can do in times of great peril."
Asuka looks puzzled, unable to follow-up with the Ship Girl's line of thought. She quickly interjects, still feeling guilty of the incident.
"But you saw what I did back there. I ordered all ships to a full stop just so I can indulge in my success in sinking that battleship...if I hadn't done so...Hokaze & Shimakaze, those poor Ship Girls..."
Asashio puts her finger on Asuka's lips, following a calm smile.
"Shiba-san, though we are now personified as Ship Girls, we are still military vessels. From the words of a certain captain long ago, a destroyer is at heart a fighting ship. We are designed & intended to be sent into harm's way. Anyone who cannot accept that doctrine has no right to call themselves a CO of a destroyer."
"What you did back there was not a personal indulgence, but of a visual confirmation of an enemy sinking. Nobody, including you, me, Hokaze or Shimakaze seen it coming. You have done nothing wrong. We were caught off guard, and therefore paid the price. However, Hokaze and Shimakaze believed in you to the very end. We are destroyers; at every engagement we stare at death in the face, but Lt. Commander Shiba, you have time and time again shown you are not afraid of such things, and therefore I personally believe you are a great commanding officer"
Asashio stands up, extending her hand towards Asuka.
"Stand up Lt. Commander Shiba, my brave & resolute commander. I, Asashio, cannot have asked for a better captain than you. I'm proud of telling the world of how my CO can run headfirst into a battleship firing straight at her yet cannot shake her resolve, and how no matter how many times she may fall, she will continue to fight for what she believes in."
Moved by the words from the Ship Girl, Asuka confidently nods in agreement. She grabs the small outreached hand of Asashio & firmly shakes her hand. Asuka replies to Asashio's statement.
"Asashio-chan, your words hold deep meaning, and I will strive myself into fulfilling your expectations. Even though I may fall down, I will never give up." She closes the distance between her and the Asashio and embraces her, softly telling the Ship Girl her last words.
"Thank-you, Asashio-chan."
Well, here it is. The long awaited battle with Ship Girls against Abyssal fleet.
* The Anvil attack is an attack method where 2 squadrons of dive & torpedo bomber attack a single target at the same time, each squad attacking 45 degrees off the enemy's bow. This method guarantees a hit regardless of how the enemy ships maneuvers; always exposing a full side of the hull to one group of attack planes.
** The US Navy has always historically referred their destroyers as "tin cans", due to their lack of armor in comparison to the rest of the battle fleet.
*** Fish = torpedoes in US navy speak. Since the US Mk.14 & Mk.15 torpedo are the last word in reliability early war, visual confirmation was usually required to ensure proper operation (Humorously, a good number of them won't explode even upon contact). Hence the term "fish in the water" to indicate a successful launch.
Yes, the lovely dutiful Asashio will serve as the primary protagonist thereafter of Secrets from the Abyss. Her dutiful nature & trust in the admiral in-game is what drew me to her being a great companion to a fierce, brave yet insecure Asuka Shiba. More about the Lt. Commander in the next upcoming chapter, where I will disclose her history in depth.
Not much to say here, except that the next chapter will be VERY LONG & more character development in preparation of the main story.
For now, enjoy until future updates arises.
-Trades46
