Chapter 7-The Philippine Sea II

After making the rendezvous with the Mason, the Ensign was concerned that Yamakaze immediately retreated to the stateroom she was berthed in with the other destroyer girls, saying she had a stomachache. Shigure reassured him that she wasn't sick, but was simply in too overwhelmed to be able to emotionally process her revival, and needed quiet rest more than food at the moment. After using his Abyssal power, he realized he was starving even more than usual. His charges readily agreed to hit the mess for breakfast. Although he had his JMSDF khakis to change back into, his host had not been amused with the shipgirls' "schoolgirl" attire. Much to Yuudai's amusement, Captain Hollis had thoughtfully provided his team with gifts from their American allies laid out on their bunks; USN digital camouflage BDUs bereft of insignia with navy blue, grey and black blocky splotches. Apparently some of the Mason's crew with kids had donated child sizes for his destroyer maidens. Predictably the younger ship girls had been delighted with the novelty gear, while his battleship twins had both looked decidedly unhappy with the new look.

As they walked in a group to breakfast, several of the crew passing by of both sexes openly stared at the Fusou twins, but Yamashiro's piercing glare quickly convinced them to look the other way. Everybody in the Nishimura group looked surprised when a few of the Mason's crew saw them enter and stood up in respect. The rest of the crew at mess rapidly followed suit, and gave a mixture of bows and salutes to convey their gratitude. Obviously their reputation had preceded them!

Yuudai felt deeply touched as he saluted back, followed by his underlings. Without a word, everyone in the room went back to their routines. Although the mess serving line had the conventional American breakfast options of cereal, yogurt, hot oatmeal, eggs, hash browns, toast, pancakes, bacon, and sausage links, to Yuudai's slight surprise the chef had a large rice cooker running as well, along with chopsticks in the utensil dispenser. Apparently some of the crew were Americans of Asian descent, much like the ship's XO. Most of the fleet maidens eagerly went for the hot tea and scrambled eggs with white rice as the food that most reminded them of their homeland; Suzutsuki, however, seemed to be unusually taken with the grilled potatoes. He chuckled inwardly as he noted Fusou, Yamashiro, and Mogami had about twice as much food piled up on their trays as the destroyer girls. It made sense in a weird sort of way as upkeep of their larger hull displacement logically required more resources.

Although the room was packed with sailors, most were engaged in quiet conversation or eating in silence. The mood was somber as the Ensign knew they had lost three of their complement during the fierce battle the previous night.

As they sat down together at bench seats and after giving thanks, dug in. However, familiar voices speaking in Japanese from the morning news program broadcast from Tokyo caught his attention on the gigantic wall-mounted flatscreen TV. "This footage was recorded at daybreak only a few hours ago from our friends at TV Patrol at ABS-CBN from Manila. As you can see after a fierce battle with the still mysterious aquatic alien invaders, an Arliegh Burke class destroyer is seen grounded on Hibuson Island just to the east of Letye island."

Shigure turned and gawked at the TV screen in amazement, "Admiral? Is that a newsreel film playing in Technicolor? The colors are so vivid!"

Yuudai sighed, "Shigure-san, I'd rather you not call me Admiral in public. Please call me Ensign or Commander. To answer your question; it's not really a movie. It's actually a radio broadcast in real time along with pictures."

"Oh! My apologies sir."

Yamagumo beamed, "Woooooowww! These crepes are soooo sweet!"

Her sister Asagumo elbowed her, "Hey keep it down! Don't you know anything? They're called pancakes, not crepes!"

Yuudai shushed them as he stared at the helicopter footage of his destroyer fleet girls limping around the island. He cringed inwardly as the searchlight beam illuminated the battered Pagoda mast of the Fusou. So the existence of fleet maidens had been revealed on international TV! Well shit, he cursed inwardly.

The male commentator looked quizzically at the footage along his guest, who was identified using a subtitle as a History professor from Tokyo University, "Those Japanese ships look very old! We don't have anything like that currently in the JMSDF flotilla, do we Professor Nakahara?"

"Oh certainly not! This is so exciting! Those ships shouldn't be afloat at all!" The professor looked very enthused as she gushed, "Those are assuredly ships from the IJN of World War Two vintage! The lead ship is a Shiratsuyu class destroyer, followed by three Asashio class destroyers, an Akizuki-class anti air destroyer, and a Mogami class heavy cruiser. Only the Suzutsuki from the Akizuki class survived the war."

"Oh I see. How about the battleship? Could that be the mighty Yamato?"

To everyone in the fleet maiden groups' mutual mortification, Yamashiro spat out her tea, stood up and screamed at the TV, "You idiot! Don't you dare compare neesama to that overrated battleship hotel!"

Fusou miserably buried her face in her arms in shame.

Yamashiro saw every eye in the room gawking at her, quickly flushed pink, bowed and meekly returned to her seat.

On the TV show, the guest professor shook her head, "No, even half destroyed, that uniquely shaped mast and layout of her six turrets peg her as the Fusou. She was constructed twenty years before the Yamato was laid down."

Over the PA, captain Hollis barked out, "Attention all hands, this is the Captain. We are rendezvousing with the rest of the Seventh fleet. Be at your stains in ten. Bridge out."

Everybody in the room efficiently wrapped up their breakfast, swabbed down their tables, stacked up their dirty trays, and hustled off to their duty stations.

Yuudai nodded to his team. "We need to be ready too! Let's go ladies!"

The girls gave crisp salutes in response.

A polite knock roused a crying Yamakaze from her horrible nightmare. She had been dreaming about her sinking and the despair of her crew as the seas swallowed the ship as she keeled over to the port from her fatal torpedo strikes. She frantically wiped her swollen eyes as she timidly spoke up, "Yes! Come in!"

The door opened and a short young American sailor with blond hair came in and saluted with a steaming mug of hot tea. He spoke surprisingly fluent Japanese, "Miss Yamakaze, I brought you some tea."

She wanted desperately to shrink back, but forced herself to stand up and bow. "Th…thank you."

"You're welcome. I know it's a poor thank you. You ladies are a godsend in our hour of need!" The man beamed and handed her the mug, "It's hot. Be careful."

She sipped at the green tea nod gave a nod of appreciation.

Suddenly the affable sailor remembered something important, "Oh that's right, I'm Doherty. Machinists mate Chris Doherty. Pleased to meet you." He vigorously shook her limp hand, even as she looked for floorboards to sink into. "I'm sure the brass for both the US Navy and JMSDF are eager to talk to and your friends."

"Y-yes. I'm…not very good at fighting."

"Still your weapons can take them out, and all our modern tech can't do jack squat." His blue eyes sparkled, "If you're wondering why I can speak Japanese, it's because I'm planning to move to the Yokosuka HQ eventually. I..I also have a girlfriend there too."

Yamakaze's green eyes widened as she flushed, "Um…Congratulations."

He burst out laughing, "Thanks! Say, if you're up for it, I'd like to show you the Mason's engine room. The man upstairs says its okay."

She hesitated as she savored the tea. "I…okay. I'll go."

She shyly trailed behind the enlisted sailor and they headed down a few flights. Just as he was about to head aft, the fleet girl stopped short with cold sweat going down her back. "Oh no."

Doherty turned around, "Huh? What is it?"

Yamakaze started to desperately run down the transverse corridor towards the damaged bow, as she felt a very dark aura that she shouldn't be sensing!

"Hey miss! Wait up!"

She undid the dogs ringing the deformed hatch leading into the bow magazine, and stopped short once she was inside, her eyes wide with shock.

Leaning against the wall, and in obvious pain, a black armored humanoid Abyssal slowly bled black blood onto the water damaged storage room deck. It was vaguely human with white hair, eerie blue eyes faintly visible behind welder's goggles and it featured giant mechanical arms and legs with exposed hydraulics. Abyssal Seaeswon looked up in surprise on coming face to face with a ship girl! It hissed more than spoke, as it extended a yearning claw towards the petrified girl, "Pr…pretty. So pretty."

Yamakaze shrieked in terror just as Doherty arrived.

"Oh shit! He plucked up a wrench from his toolbelt and swung it at the monster!

Seaeswon caught the weapon effortlessly, collared Chris and flung him back out of the room and onto his ass! "Away!"

Chris groaned and staggered to a pull alarm and yanked it! Claxons started to hoot all over the ship!

The Abyssal swept Yamakaze up in a bridal carry as it lurched for the stairs! Several marines arrived with rifles with laser sights illuminating the monster's face mask. The squad leader swore, "Check fire! That thing has a hostage!"

Seaeswon thudded up the stairs, its heavy footfalls denting in the stairs as it ascended. Yamakaze was in too much shock to react.

The Mason's crew scattered as the armed marines grimly tailed the faceless monster. Once on deck below the bridge it came face to face with eight other pissed off ship girls and their CO!

Shigure pleaded, "Please release my sister! Spare Yamakaze! She would never hurt a soul!"

Yamashiro materialized two of her anti-air cannons and snarled, "You'd better release Yamakaze-chan at once, or you'll pay in blood, you monster!"

The Abyssal bowed its head and let its shoulders slump. After a moment's hesitation, it gently set Yamakaze back on her feet. "I…understand. Am monster." It gently patted the green-haired girl on the head. "Go to friends…pretty lady."

Suddenly the petite destroyer regained her bearings, "Y-yamashiro-senpai, don't shoot the Abyssal! It's hurt!"

Yamashiro's red eyes were narrowed to furious slits, "We've got this! Get out of the way please!"

Chris called out, "Miss Yamakaze, run away!"

Seaeswon shook its head, and moved to the port side railing. Just as the marines and battleship were ready to open fire, Yamakaze got in the way, spread out her arms and spoiled their aim! "Leave it alone! I beg you! Just let it escape!"

Yuudai felt incredibly conflicted as his enemy had gone out of its way not to harm a hair on Yamakaze's head! "Stay your fire Yamashiro-san! Abyssal! Are you aligned with Argent of the Typhoon?"

"Yes…Admiral." It looked down pleadingly at the crying shipgirl, "Don't…cry for me. Am monster. Am abomination."

She sobbed, "Just run away! Just go! I don't think you're evil!"

"You are too…kind. Thank…you." It gave Yamakaze a sudden push that sent her sprawling to the deck as Shigure's feet!

Yamakaze clung to her older sister and howled with grief as the roar of rifle and AA fire cut into the hapless Abyssal. After the firing stopped with the strong smell of gunpowder in the air, all she heard was the faint trickle that sounded just like sand striking the deck!