Chapter Eight
Another day's steaming brought them to a group of islands, the sonar actually picking the small group up. "Right on time," Ray said, watching them approach as the trio formed up behind them. Kongou came up first with her ship, watching her niece step onto the deck with her First Officer and look up at her as Yagami trained her guns on the other Mental Model. "Yagami, you will stand down," Selena said firmly. "That goes for you and Hikari as well Aurora." She smirked as they jumped down to her, staring at her. "Are you insane or just a traitor?" the black-haired Model asked, backing up at the glare she got, Kongou actually chuckling as she jumped down to them. "I believe my niece has something else in mind Yagami," she said, the others coming up as the 401 surfaced. "If you all wouldn't mind coming to my ship, we will let Selena explain why she brought us all together."
Aurora shot her Rear Admiral a look as they took a light bridge over to the Kongou. "You had this planned from the start, did you not?" she asked, letting out a sigh. "Then again, it was a...interesting tactic on your part." She watched her smirk at the comment. "Honestly, there's some things you guys do need to hear-hopefully after I've explained you'll understand." Came the reply as they entered the ready room and sat down. There was a commotion at the door soon after, Gunzou Chihaya having stepped in and was currently staring at his daughter, watching her get up and look at him before he ran to her, pulling her close. "Daddy..." she said softly, returning the hug. "Oh Selena..." he replied, his voice thick with emotion. "I thought I'd never see you again!"
"You did have me promise that I would come back to you, remember?" she reminded him, finding herself in the middle of a massive hug and hearing Hyuuga huff that she couldn't get close.
She shook herself as they broke apart, her Klein field coming around her and stopping the Model in question from tackling her before dropping it and giving her a hug. "Now behave yourself Aunt Hyuuga-it's time to be serious."
Selena grinned at the affronted grumble as they sat down before sighing and beginning to speak. "Musashi needs to be taken down," she said. "Her actions are going to doom the Fog if they are allowed to continue. Case in point would be the massive amount of nanomaterials wasted on creating weak Nagara-class cruisers that were defective and cannot even support Mental Models-I actually saw one being dismantled at the dockyard and, after doing some file checking, found out it had fired on a friendly vessel. Plus, she's so focused on me because of her damned ego-she's no longer the strongest ship and that kind of thing is going to divide the fleet."
"Looks like that's already happening if we're having this meeting," Sou chimed in, watching the trio look at him. "Sou Oribe, First Mate of the I-401." He said, nodding to them in greeting. "I have studied what I can on Fleet of Fog Technology and from what I can see, plus my knowledge of what the limits Musashi had previously and mostly still has, there is very little chance of her overwhelming Selena. I believe she is giving you a choice here-you could side with her, or go and side with Musashi, which, no offense to any of you, would be a losing proposition."
Hikari grinned. "I'm siding with the Rear Admiral," she chirped, Hyuuga making a 'kawaii' noise and earning a glare. "Before Yagami and I agree to this," Aurora said. "What are your plans after you take over?"
"I believe the same level of harmony seen at Samoa and that exists at the other bases could be achieved world-wide," was the reply. "Sure we'll have those that will go against us but if we only go after them instead of every ship out there it could indeed be feasible. Also, all Models would get some action instead of just using weak Nagara-class cruisers to collect info-they're not all that efficient. A Model-equipped ship would be able to not only collect more data but could also sift through said data to bring back only what is relevant. Plus, I would continue to stand and fight myself as long as I am able-I'm not going to stay in one place and only go out for important stuff like Musashi is currently doing if I can help it."
"It will take some time for the humans to understand your views," Yagami said. "But I will stand with you Selena." She turned to look at the others, Aurora chuckling. "You make a compelling argument, plus I am not fool enough to side with Musashi at the moment, due to her inability to see what she is putting all of us Mental Models through. I too have seen what you have Selena and you are right-it does need to stop. I stand with you and them."
Selena smiled. "Thank you." She said, getting up. "We will take our time as we head back-I have some catching up to do, plus if I don't give my Aunt Hyuuga a tour of my ship she's going to go off. Why don't you and Shizuka come with Sou since you are into this kind of thing?"
The next thing she knew, there was a clingy Mental Model holding onto her leg that she was trying to shake off. "Still call this kind of thing a 'quirk in the programming' Aurora?" she asked dryly, watching the other Model just stare. Kongou came over and separated the two. "Hyuuga, be professional-I really don't think our niece wants to start pulling rank and you're causing a scene with your actions."
"I'll take them over Ma'am," Ray said with a knowing smile. "I believe there are two others that wish for your attention currently." He nodded to her parents before taking the three she mentioned back across, the other Models leaving the room and giving the three of them some privacy. Selena looked at them, her father pulling her close before looking her over. "I recognize where you got that look from," he said. "It was that day I took you to the docks for the first time-you had my jacket on your shoulders and were playing 'Admiral' as you called it-the dockworkers got a kick out of it."
"That was also when you got to see Kongou's ship for the first time." Takao added, hugging her daughter as tears fell. "You were just fascinated by her from that day on. She came down and you just looked at her with wide eyes and a huge smile when she lifted you up."
The young woman looked at them, tears in her own eyes. "I missed you both so much." She said. "I'm sorry I didn't stay in contact but you both understand why, right?
Gunzou nodded as a window opened in front of her and she held up a finger. "Yeah Ray?" she asked, watching him widen the shot, seeing Hyuuga bouncing around the weapons bay before swearing. "I'll be right there." She closed the window, looking at them. "We'll come with," her mother said, Kongou meeting them as they began to go across, touching her shoulder gently as she followed. Selena led the way to the area they needed to be, the Model in question rushing over. "An actual working SAC!" she squealed. "You are so lucky-I remember when this was only on the drawing board." She watched her. "I can't wait to see it in action!"
"Oh no..." she said, rubbing her temples. "No...nonononono. You're planning on traveling with me and having your ship follow, aren't you?"
"Would that be so bad Sweet Selena?"
"Tell me," Selena said, putting her hands on her hips. "How can I trust you down here when I know how you get when you have new tech on your hands? You always have to take it apart. By the way-that reminds me," she pointed a finger at Hyuuga, poking her. "You overestimated what the Graviton generators for the Wave-Force Armor could handle on that Pensacola-Class! 20 light cruisers firing continuously oversaturated the Klein field easily and two SGC shots took out the bridge!" She stepped back, thinking for a moment. "You're not having my ship follow mine." She said, watching her aunt start to flip. "Oh stop Aunt Hyuuga-that's not what I meant. I mean I'm going to bring my ship up and have you and the others dock down below-we'll pull the Trojan horse routine." The young woman moved off, heading for the docking bay with the others and raising her ship fully out of the water, a bay opening where she was looking. "Haruna, Kirishima and to the 401," she said. "Come and dock in my ship-you too Mom as well as Kongou. We're going to give Musashi a surprise."
She watched them pull in and dock, waiting for the bay to close fully before letting the ship go back down, glancing at everyone. "Iori, you and Kirishima can have the engine room. Sou, Shizuka and Hyuuga can have the weapons bay, provided my aunt can keep her hands to herself." She glanced over, seeing her pout. "And don't give me that look Aunt Hyuuga, it's not going to work-I'll need you three to monitor my weapon and energy usage-stay in contact with the engine room. If I need to fire off that SAC, I'll need to know exactly what's going on. Aunt Haruna, why don't you stay with them-I'd feel better if there was another set of eyes on her. The rest of you I need to ask about the last time you went against..." she looked up, the trio looking at her. "We can help with Musashi's specs," Yagami said, leading the way up to the ready room as the groups broke off, the main one sitting down as the black-haired Model pulled up info. Gunzou looked it over. "They haven't changed all that much since we last saw her," he said, having his daughter pull up the specs of her ship. "In your current setup, you're pretty equal...staying in this form for most of the fight would be a good idea before raising up at the last second and letting off a shot from the Solar Arc Cannon. We need to know how the rest of the fleet is going to take Musashi getting taken out, however."
"Selena is going to challenge for leadership," Aurora said, looking at him. Whoever wins the fight is the head of the Fleet of Fog-no exceptions."
"What if she's sent into unconsciousness due to the fight?" Ray asked, looking at the Model.
"She would still be leader-only if she dies would it fall apart. Plus there is a period extended that would protect her from having to fight before she is able-it's rarely used, but it just has to be invoked-something I will gladly do if needed."
Selena left them to talk, heading onto the deck to get some fresh air, a hand touching her shoulder after a few minutes, Kongou looking at her before shaking her head. "Come with me," she said, leading her niece off to a secluded area and having her sit down before combing out her hair with the comb she kept tucked away, braiding it tightly before securing it with the tie she had made up, the charm hanging in the center. She watched the young woman pull the braid over her shoulder to look at the charm, spotting the small chip as she stared up at her, letting her hair go back over her shoulder and hang down her back again. "The Fog sigil?" she asked, the Model smiling. "I 'printed' it up on our way here." She replied. "You never would have been happy living a normal life, would you?"
Selena shook her head. "The sea is in my blood, just like Dad." She chuckled faintly. "I just realized if I win I'm going to outrank him...that makes no sense."
"This is why you're perfect for leading Selena," Kongou watched her get up and turn to her before speaking, walking with her on the deck. "You think of the little things like this. I would be beyond proud to call you Fleet Admiral. You know that your aunts and I will be there to help right?" She smiled wistfully. "I wish your Aunt Iona could see you like this...she was a good friend and I understand her so much better because of you." She glanced down. "She opened me up to friendship, but it was you that taught me what it truly meant. I miss her, but your father I think misses her more-they had a close friendship during their time together."
Gunzou walked over at that moment, taking out a necklace with a cameo pendant it and looking at it before fastening it around his daughter's neck. "She wore this when she fought Musashi-may it bring you luck Selena."
Selena hugged him. "I wish I could have met her Dad," she said, touching the pendant gently before reaching up and wiping the tears she saw. "If I could ask her about Musashi's tactics-such information would be invaluable for the coming battle."
"I know honey," he said, rubbing her back before letting go of her, setting his hands on her shoulders. "You're fighting for everyone, aren't you? Not just Fog, but the rest of us as well. That's a lot more than Musashi is doing...I still haven't forgiven her for making a copy of my father and using that as a speaker-something that still hasn't really gotten that cleared up you know."
"My own actions may not help matters, but I'm not going to let them take what I do out on you. Then there's Taggart-he's not going to give up too easily after I humiliated him in front of the fleet." She looked down for a moment, thinking. "Have they figured out who I really am yet?"
"At last check they still think you're Selena Thompson." Her father said. "It gave us the ability to leave when we did but I get the feeling we cut it very fine with the timing."
"Could they have followed you guys?" Selena asked after several moments.
"With the speed we had it's highly doubtful," Kongou replied. "They can only go a max of about 60 knots and you know our ships do 80 plus."
"Good-that makes one less thing I need to worry about in the battle-idiots showing up at the wrong moment."
Gunzou laughed at her comment. "You never did like people getting in your way Selena." He thought for a moment. "You know, your gunnery training could come in handy here-it really isn't that different save the controls and the weapons. Just watch out for her Mirror-Ring System."
A window popped up, Hyuuga on the screen. "She doesn't have to worry about that Gunzou," she said. "The Solar Arc Cannon isn't affected by the Mirror-Ring System, and Selena's own system...let's just say it's twice what we saw my goddess use in that battle-that was a total of 16 mirrors-this one looks to use thirty-two or more! I could study this ship for years and not learn everything."
"Aunt Hyuuga, I'll indulge you a bit here," Selena said, smirking at her. "I need you find out what you can about the current weapons on board-total up everything with Shizuka and Sou's help. I need to know just what I have that I can throw at Musashi. I also need the exact specs for the SAC-I'm asking you since you've heard of it before."
A second window popped up. "You got two redundant engines down here Selena," Iori said, looking at her. "Running the lines to see where they're connected."
"No need Iori," the Model replied. "They're mainly to give power to the SAC and are bridged over the other six down there-this thing requires a lot of power to fire. It was never deemed...practical for long firefights but might just be the saving grace needed for this battle."
"It does that much damage?" the young woman asked, raising an eyebrow. "What's the charge time on it?"
"It's a five-minute charge time-keep in mind while that's charging, however, your energy levels are going to go down. That means Musashi is probably going to get some hits off on you."
"Let her get some hits-it'll lull her into a false sense of security and make her think she can actually win." She gave a wicked grin. "I'm good at strategy, you know that."
A third window opened up. "Excuse me while I go inventory the medical supplies then Ma'am," Ray said in a sardonic tone. "Who knows what state you're going to end up in this time right?"
"Real funny Ray," she shot back. "Keep in mind how weak the Klein field was before. If anything prepare for energy drain-we still don't know how this is going to affect me."
She closed the windows before looking out at the ocean, Takao jumping down and setting her hands on her daughter's shoulders, watching her look up. "Do you blame me for my choice to join Mom?" she asked quietly, the other two on the deck heading inside as she answered. "No honey-this ship was made for you...you would have met at some point." She looked down. "I can see how well you fit, plus, unlike most Mental Models, you've never sought power-you've always been content with what you had."
"You, Dad and the others raised me right Mom," came the reply. "Even though I tend to act a bit more like Aunt Kongou most of the time." She grinned. "She taught me how to look at things objectively, not just barrel in."
"You and your aunt are two of a kind." She brushed back one of her long bangs, thinking.
Selena looked off, watching wisps of fog billow over the ship, feeling in her element as they moved. Takao headed off, leaving her with her thoughts after kissing her cheek. She sighed, thinking back on everything that had happened up until that point, shaking her head as she slumped against a wall. "Ray's right-I am nuts. Musashi has battle experience and everything and all I have is a huge ship with a weapon she lacks. What was I thinking?"
"You were thinking of everything Musashi was not," a voice replied, Kongou coming over to her, knowing full well she needed to hear the words. "No matter what happens to you, I will stand with you-so will everyone on the ship as well as the three that follow. You're more than what Musashi thinks and it's time you showed her that. You are not some experiment or whatever she wants to believe-you are the daughter of a great man and one of the bravest Models I've ever known. On top of that, you are MY niece," she walked in front of her, setting her hands on her niece's shoulders and making her look into her eyes. "You are not weak Selena," she went on, seeing her shake slightly. "Remember what we've taught you and know that we'll be at your side while you fight." The Model set one finger on her forehead. "You have abilities you don't even know of yet-find and unlock them."
Selena looked down after the finger was moved, thinking for a moment and searching herself before raising her head. "Strategy..." she said. "Musashi most likely acts like most Fog Models-going full out with her attacks until the threat's been neutralized. I need to out-think Musashi-especially during the SAC's charge-up sequence-directing my armor and weapons like the conductor we saw at that concert years ago."
Kongou smiled, nodding before heading back inside, Kyouhei shuddering and watching her look over. "Y-you're smiling ma'am," he said formally, stuttering a little as she raised an eyebrow. "I actually smile quite a bit Kyouhei Kashihara-most simply do not get to see it. My niece is one of the few people that will always make me do so."
They looked up as Selena came in, heading up to the bridge. "Ray, open a channel to the Fleet-it's time I laid down my challenge." She said, sitting down in her chair as she waited, seeing him nod before speaking. "To all Fog ships, this is the FFS Seleene. I wish all to hear what I am about to say." She leaned forward, her eyes glinting behind her visor. "Musashi, you have shown wasteful ways and your actions as of late threaten to divide the Fog-that will not be tolerated. Therefore, I challenge you for the right to lead the Fleet." She smirked wickedly, knowing the Model was most likely losing it, her gaze knowing. "I await your reply-to be broadcast to all Fog ships, so they are aware that a challenge is going down and to not interfere. Seleene out."
Ray cut the feed, a window popping up and the trio applauding. "Well said Ms. Selena," Hikari said as there was a chuckle, Kirishima looking at her from the doorway. "The old bat is probably losing it right now if she is anything like we remember."
"Would we expect anything less from my sweet Selena?" Hyuuga commented, Takao facepalming. "You know one of these days she's going to lose it and take you down, right Hyuuga?" She watched the Model step through, watching her niece raise an eyebrow before bringing over a datapad. "The info you wanted," she said backing away quickly and the group disappearing from view as Musashi appeared, her red eyes glaring. "What is the meaning of this challenge?"
"It's as I said-your actions of late threaten to tear the Fleet apart." She replied coolly.
"And why would I accept such a challenge? What makes you think I won't just walk away?"
"You have the right to back down, but Section 5, article 2 of the Admiralty Code states the protocols for such challenges Musashi. But know this: if you do back down from my challenge that will simply show your inability to lead."
She watched the Model look it up, reading for a moment before glaring at her again, transmitting a location. "Meet me here in one week-it's where I sank Yamato-and where your grave will be as well. Be there with whomever you choose to coach the match."
The call dropped, Selena slumping forward. "Yeah, she's lost it all right." She glanced up, Aurora coming in after jumping to her ship, the others following. "Did you just purposely bait the Head of the Fleet?" she asked, awe in her voice and watching her grin. "I've knocked her so far off-balance it's a wonder she's still standing upright. I think she probably figured I would challenge at some point, but not this soon." She tapped the 'pad, sending the info up into windows she could view easily. "There's enough here to outfit an army," she breathed as she scanned what they had found. "And that's not counting the SGC and SAC." She exhaled for a moment, thinking before looking up at Kongou. "You know I choose you to coach this Aunt Kongou, correct?" she asked, watching her nod and smirk wickedly as the ship turned about. "Oh don't worry Selena," she said. "I'm more than honored to do it. Besides, who else would you chose for such a thing?" she looked off for a moment. "Plus, I'll be in the perfect position to study the SAC to see about getting one built for myself."
There was the sound of running in the hall, Selena sighing. "Aunt Kongou, stop scaring the humans please."
The Model laughed as they headed for the location.
(A.N.: Plots, plans and a challenge! Plus, more Hyuuga providing comic relief! [Yeah, I had to pull a total anime move with Selena trying to shake the crazy Model off her leg])
