A/N: I don't own anything save my OCs.

XXXX/

That was when Caboose thought he saw movement, thinking fast he handed Kisaragi off to Doc, just as an Abyssal ship type appeared!

XXXX

Caboose rolled backwards and came up on one knee as Doc carrying Kisaragi scrambled out of the way. He then sprayed the thing with .450 Marlin ammunition. This round could stomp a Bison to the ground from the 500 yards away. Yet from a range of fifteen feet away a long burst of 25 rounds had done nothing to it! "What's going on?" Tex asked as she came over and peered into the area that Caboose was in with that big ass Abyssal, she then recoiled and yelled "BIG DAMN ABYSSAL!" she then began spraying the big bastard but her rifle was only shooting 5.7x28mm ammunition and it was of smaller caliber than Caboose's rifle. There was a thunderous wham was a M67 Frag grenade thrown by Caboose exploded and sent the Abyssal on to its ass. To Caboose's dismay the Abyssal ship type simply got back up, an absolutely chilling grin on its face. It was basically saying 'I can do this all day. Can you do it all day? I doubt it from what you have done so far.' Caboose swore and then reloaded his rifle then began spraying it again. Then to the surprise of all, the thing lunged with surprising speed and brutally backhanded Caboose sending him flying at least twenty feet away. Caboose slowly got to his feet and then dropped his rifle and pulled out his shotgun, a Saiga-12. He then slammed a clip of 12-gauge HEAT rounds which was similar to what the AA-12 could fire. He then fired a round, and watched as the thing reeled. "Come here you big piece of Abyssal turd!" Caboose snarled.

The Abyssal ship type growled and began to walk slowly toward Caboose, with its yellow eyes glowing with hatred. Caboose slowly walked toward it as well, firing his shotgun, the tiny HEAT round was obviously punching through its armor as it staggered slightly with each hit, and its eyes winched with pain. Just before they touched Caboose began to one arm his shotgun, just as he pulled the trigger the thing smacked his weapon out of his hand, sending skittering across the floor its barrel bent. It then grabbed him by the neck and lifted him off the ground, and began to squeeze slowly increasing the pressure, however this was Caboose's plan, he then he pulled out his combat knife a CQC-6 combat knife, which had been named after SEAL Team 6, he then grunting with the effort slammed the knife into the thing's right eye. It reeled howling in pain and dropped Caboose and it thrashed in pain. Caboose finally had the advantage! Caboose pulled out a second combat knife this one Glock Survival Knife, made in Austria, he then swept his leg low, and watched with satisfaction as the enemy fell on its ass, still howling in pain. He brought the knife down toward it's the crown of its head, and watched as the knife glanced off. The bastard was really well protected. Without missing a beat, he yanked the CQC-6 out of its right eye, if anything it howled louder in pain. Caboose delivered a hell of a kick to its chest and put flat on its back. He swung the Glock survival knife across the thing's neck and grimaced slightly as thick black blood came squirting out of the gash, he then slammed the CQC-6 into the gash the Glock Survival knife had created. More blood came pouring out of the wound as its jugular was ripped open. Its howling became a sickening gurgle, and it suddenly got sick and tired of a human that was probably a good two feet shorter than it kicking its ass. He slammed a punch into Caboose's stomach, it felt as if a pile driver had just hit him, he staggered, but continued slashing at its neck with his knives, this was why Caboose hated fighting Abyssal ship types on land. They were tough and a virtual pain in the ass to kill, however Caboose now figured he could a grenade into that thing's neck.

He sheathed one of his knives, the CQC-6. Its blade was now severely nicked, and the handle was likely cracked but he didn't care. He then pulled out of his webbing a Model 308-1 Napalm Grenade, he then pulled the pin and slammed it into the gash he created with his knives wedging it in there nice and good, he then sprang away. He watched as it barely got to its feet, then realized that a nade was in its neck, Caboose swore he thought he heard the thing say "Oh Son of a-" then the Napalm grenade went off, it screamed as flames roiled from its neck and the Napalm stuck to it and began to burn. It thrashed widely clawing at its neck trying to put the fire out, but you would basically need a water dropper to put that fire out. It flailed for roughly three minutes before collapsing dead.

Caboose knew he had taken a beating, he saw Tex sprinting toward him. A look of awe and worry plastered on her face. Then a wave of understanding came over Caboose, he had just killed an Abyssal Ship Type on land. A feat that was incredibly rare, among the ground troops, it usually took at least one division to take one down. Yet Caboose had just done it; single-handily! "Godamnit that hurt!" Caboose groaned out falling to one knee, as the adrenaline slowly ebbed from his body and the pain hit him. Just from the way he was feeling he probably had several broken bones, hopefully just ribs and maybe a severely bruised jaw.

"Damn, I thought you were a trooper before. But after taking that hit, any other man would have likely been screaming in pain or dead. However you took that like a champ." Tex said as she slowly lifted Caboose to his feet and began to support his weight. "Come on Tiger, let's get you to the medics after that fight, you are going to be going to the hospital." Tex said as she helped Caboose walk to where one of the medics took one look at him and said "Christ buddy, I am going to sedate you right now. You are going to the America ASAP." Caboose had nodded then barely felt the needle go in, the drug quickly took effect.

XXXX

Five days later

USS America

Heading back to Pearl Harbor at flank speed

The first thing Caboose was aware of was constant beeping, probably from a heart rate monitor. He must have groaned, for a doctor suddenly appeared. "Easy their Private, you took a hell of a beating during Operation: Bunkershot." She said. "Yeah, tell me something I don't know. I know I took a pounding killing that Abyssal ship type." Caboose groaned out. "Actually there is one thing. A couple of Japanese ship girls want to meet you and talk to you if you are feeling up to it." The nurse said. That news got Caboose wide awake. "I think, I can feel up to it you can send them in." Caboose said and the nurse nodded.

A few moments a pair of familiar faces walked in, Caboose recognized them instantly as Fubuki and Yuudachi, right behind them on crutches was a ship girl that Caboose had heard about but had never meet, Kisaragi. Fubuki sat on the end of the bed while Yuudachi and Kisaragi each sat down in a chair.

"How are you doing, Caboose?" Fubuki asked nervously, she had very clearly heard of what had happened to Caboose on his rescue mission.

"I am doing fine Fubuki thanks for asking. However, if there is one thing I want to know is that Yuudachi how were you not killed in your encounter with that Battleship Water Demon division?" Caboose asked curiously.

"To be frank I have no idea. That action was frantic, I don't know why when my engine quit why I wasn't executed. The Abyssal rarely take POWs and when they do, it's only so they can execute one for sport. Last thing I remember before waking up in that convoy was a Battleship Water Demon, the only one left I might add, approaching me and then it said 'Surrender or die, it's your choice' so I surrendered and probably just to make sure I didn't struggle, it knocked me out. Next thing I remember is that I am waking up, and I am in a convoy of Abyssal transports guarded by mainly Destroyer Water Demons and a couple of Light Cruiser Princesses. We then entered that storm. I remember watching a Wa-class catch a wave broadside on, the lines holding two POWs both Wickes-class Destroyer girls fail the sudden release of weight combined with her cargo shifting caused her to capsize and sink so fast it was incredible. The same thing happened to two other ship girls. Both Torpedo Cruisers. When I entered that POW camp I was so scared. The rest I guess you know. Poi" Yuudachi said quaking visibly, her voice laced with fear and dread at the horrors that she had gone through at that battle then during her time as a POW.

"Don't beat yourself up, Yuudachi. If you think the horrors were bad during the five months you were there was bad. It's nothing. I was at that infernal place for almost the entire war, trust me. I went through horrors that are probably going to give me nightmares for the rest of my life. So Yuudachi please don't beat yourself up over it. If anything you surrendering was just your natural instinct to continue living kicking in, you have no one to blame Yuudachi. Besides the Clemson-class girl Pope wouldn't have survived in that place without you. If anything you should be commended." Kisaragi said, in soft yet pained voice, Fubuki and Yuudachi looked at her stunned.

"What's wrong?" Caboose asked not knowing what was going on.

"That was the first time she spoke well since you rescued her. We all thought she would never speak again. Not because she couldn't, but because she just wouldn't be able to do so at all with what she was been through. When you rescued her, it was painfully obvious that she had been through the ringer. Yet she hadn't been talking at all. However now she is, it's a great sign that she is recovering albeit slowly." Fubuki said, looking at Kisaragi with admiration that despite her being a POW for several years she was a survivor, and had an amazing will to live one that rivaled Samuel B. Roberts's, Yamato's, or hell even Enterprise's.

"Truth be told Fubuki, we would have never found her if we hadn't gone after Yuudachi. Which I was going to do regardless if you were going to come along or not. I am not the kind of person who lives men behind, and in my book that goes double for a ship girl." Caboose said.

"Quoting the Eric Nyland's book Halo: First Strike, seriously?" A new voice said, everyone looked to the door where another ship girl was standing. She had dark brown hair and dark blue eyes. She was wearing a full NWU as well.

"Who are you?" Kisaragi asked her voice still soft but pained.

"My name is Indiana formally USS Indiana BB-58, second member of the South Dakota-class of Battleship. I want to drop by and just say thank you for saving me Caboose, as well as others. Just thank you." Indiana said.

"Indiana, your welcome. Also may I please ask a question?" Caboose said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Fire away" Indiana said, having no idea what the question was.

"Has anyone ever be it on accident or purpose, called you Indiana Jones?" Caboose asked cheekily.

Indiana's face turned red she then shouted "WHY DOES EVERYONE ASK ME THAT QUESTION? I AM ALWAYS GETTING CALLED 'JONES' BY SOUTH DAKOTA!"

Everyone in the room was trying to suppress their laughter at that remark, because well it was too funny. But at the mention of South Dakota, Fubuki noted that Kisaragi had a pained look on her face. "Did I say something wrong?" Indiana asked, having noted it as well.

"Yeah, you did Indiana, poi. Kisaragi was holding out for a miracle, but from what we could tell, this was the Abyssals only major POW camp on the planet, poi. The guard in the room you were in, told her that her technically older sister was killed during Operation: IBS, poi. She just found out that it's true, worse she is now the eldest of the Mutsuki-class of destroyer girl, poi. So please don't mention a name ship from a class around her, poi." Yuudachi said, hugging Kisaragi who at the mention of her sister began to sob silently, holding Yuudachi tight. The way Kisaragi was holding Yuudachi, reminded her so much of the way Fubuki helped Mutsuki get over the loss of Kisaragi when she thought she was gone. "Mutsuki, is gone, I can't really believe it. I have been hoping what that Abyssal ship type told me was a lie, to crush me, so they could perform even crueler experiments on me. I didn't want to believe it, but something in my gut just told me she was gone." Kisaragi said even softer than before.

XXXX

Meanwhile on the bridge of the America commodore Jenkins S. Murphy who was not related to Eddie Murphy in any way sat in the Captain's chair on the bridge America was sipping his coffee, he had just gotten a complaint from the air boss that one of the F-14F Tomcats had just done a flyby and caused him to spill his coffee down his front, again. That was when one of the bridge wing lookouts spotted something. "WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?! SURFACE CONTACT! BEARING 065 TRUE! RANGE 15,000 METERS!" He screamed in terror.

"WHAT?! Give me identification! NOW!" Murphy roared, while shooting a look at the radio operator. "Prepare to go to General Quarters." He snapped. "Yes sir!" Came two simultaneous replies.

"OH MY FUCKING GOD!" The lookout cried "ITS THE FLYING DUTCHMAN!"

That got everyone's attention, instantly everyone on the bridge was grabbing binoculars and looking toward the unknown. Sure enough a strange three masted, ghostly lit brig was pulling the hook perpendicular to their course. She was under full canvas and moving at about seventeen knots.

"I'll be damned it's her alright. It has been a long-ass time since I've seen her, about 80 odd years." A new voice said behind Jenkins he spun and then grinned it was the America's liaison to the American Ship Girl program, Langley formally USS Langley CV-1.

"Really? That's a shocker, I had no idea Langley you've encountered The Flying Dutchman. It makes you wonder is it just a trick of the light, or is the legend real? I guess it's one of those questions that we will never know the answer too." Jenkins said.

"Aye, when we encountered her, she signaled us asking for us to send a Pirate named Blackbeard over in a whaleboat. To which we replied saying he's been dead for at least a century." Langley replied giving a knowing wink.

"Captain! I am seeing a signal lamp flashing. Message reads as follows. Unknown ship unknown ship unknown ship please send over one William Halsey over in a whaleboat. Well then, that's original." The XO said causing everyone to chuckle.

"Tell them William Halsey has been dead for nearly fifty years, sorry." Jenkins ordered, trying not burst out laughing.

"Yes sir!" The lookout replied letting out a snicker, he then proceeded to send the reply.

"Not getting a response, she's heeling over to port away from us, what the hell! She's gone!" The lookout barked in awe, as the ghostly brig disappeared without a trace.

XXXX

The next day, the America's encounter with The Flying Dutchman was the buzz of discussion. The Dutchman had been seen before, but some took it as a good omen that the infamous ghost ship had been seen instead of an omen of doom. Sure enough they were right, for the Abyssals never showed their face once.

About three days later the America pulled into Pearl Harbor. Caboose was given a hell of a promotion to Captain and was also given an offer to join some Special Forces Unit known as the Delta Company 1st Battalion 5th Special Operations Group, which he was given right after he was released from the hospital about a month later. Caboose accepted the offer, but both Fubuki and Yuudachi had made him promise that he would write to them whenever he could, and would visit them occasionally. Not wanting to get on the bad side of Fubuki and Yuudachi he accepted.

XXXX

"It feels great to be able to walk again without those damned crutches, right." Caboose said as he got ready for his morning run, Fubuki and Kisaragi were with him.

"Hai! It sure does!" Kisaragi said, her voice still soft but not as pained as it was when she first spoke a month ago.

"I am excited to get back into routine. Let's roll!" Fubuki said, giving Kisaragi a loving pat on the back, while it wasn't the same as receiving one from a member of her own class, it was still enough to make her crack in a bit of smile.

The run went well, although Caboose being a bit more muscular than the ship girls even if they did look stronger than they looked didn't have the endurance in their bodies to maintain a full sprint at all like Caboose could. Yet Pearl Harbor was large base far larger than the Naval District Yokosuka. The reason Kisaragi was with them, was to help with her rehabilitation she had only recently began to speak about what the Abyssals had done to her. She did it in scared tones. Roughly forty-five minutes into the run, Fubuki said "I can't go on anymore" she was exhausted and Kisaragi nodded. Caboose nodded, "Alright, let's head to Florida's Bar, its run by a pretty familiar face." He said.

"How so?" Kisaragi asked.

"It's run by the Battleship Girl Florida, she's a good cook, nowhere near as good as Mamiya is good in terms of being a cook." Caboose said.

"I guess we will be the judge of that." Fubuki and Kisaragi said together before sharing a look with a Caboose and laughing a bit. When they composed themselves they walked to the bar.

"It's not that far from where we are. We could easily be there in twenty minutes." Caboose said looking at his watch.

"What are we waiting for, let's roll." Fubuki said and Kisaragi nodded.

XXXX

Twenty minutes later, the group arrived at Florida's Bar which she had been running since she was retired after she had gotten into a brutal engagement with an enemy Aviation Battleship Division. The building was a modest in size, a two story building made of brick, with a wooden porch. Caboose, Fubuki, and Kisaragi walked into the bar and took a seat that overlooked the harbor.

It didn't take long for Florida to show up. Florida being the name ship of her class of Battleship, which were considered obsolete when World War II started, was rather short for a Battleship, roughly around five feet four inches and she appeared physically to be around 26 years of age. She had fire red hair and gorgeous green eyes. She was wearing a red Jimmy Buffet shirt that said Summer Coolz on it, and gray shorts, along with blue and white sandals.

"How are you three doing?" She asked kindly as she passed out menus.

"Not bad, just got out of the hospital. I've always been something of a fast healer. Still, I can't wait to get back in the saddle. I hear that British are gearing up and I do mean gearing up to kick the Abyssals out of the Falkland Islands. Because well the British were pissed about hearing that the Abyssals took the Falklands, but I wouldn't be surprised if I was deployed there to help with the land operations." Caboose said as he looked through the menu.

"What about you two? Your obviously ship girls, Japanese if I had to guess." Florida said looking at Fubuki and Kisaragi.

"That's because we are, I am Fubuki and this is Kisaragi." Fubuki replied gesturing to Kisaragi.

Florida stopped cold, "Fubuki, did you take part in Operation Bunker Shot?" She asked.

"Yes, I did. So did Caboose here, it was a really big Operation. Well not in terms of scope as Operation: IBS, but still good sized." Fubuki said, warily.

"It's all well and good, believe me. I would have really wanted to join you. But ever since I limped back into port, with my younger sister Utah, and a single destroyer; with us being the lone survivors from an encounter with two Re-class Aviation Battleships, a Nu-class Escort Carrier, three Ri-class Heavy Cruisers, a To-class Light Cruiser, and six I-class Destroyers. I haven't put to sea since that incident. Considering that I had been the focus of gunfire from both of the enemy Battleships and one of the Ri-class I just took a hammering. Considering my fleet had myself, Utah, four light cruisers, a single heavy cruiser, and five destroyers. We just got completely stomped in an action that became known as the Skirmish off Johnston Atoll. Some claim it was a tactical victory for the Abyssals but a Strategic defeat. While others say it was a tactical defeat but an enormous strategic victory. I simply do not know however, I was lucky to have survived that encounter." Florida said.

"Still, how did you find out about Operation: Bunker Shot?" Caboose asked.

"Simple, just five minutes before the Operation began. The CO of the naval district announced it, probably to boost morale." Florida said with a wink.

Caboose and Fubuki nodded in response. That made sense, morale had been okay, but not spectacular after Operation: Countdown/Battle-axe/IBS. Thus announcing this, just five minutes before the Operation began, would have made morale soar.

Florida looked like she wanted to ask Kisaragi something but thought better of it. "What can I get for you?" She asked.

"I think, I will have a coffee; black two sugar cubes, with scrambled eggs and hash browns." Caboose said, after looking through the menu one more time.

"Alright" Florida said, taking the order down on her notepad. She then looked at Fubuki and Kisaragi and said "You two would like the Destroyer serving for breakfast?"

"I guess" Kisaragi said.

"Why not, a load of scrambled eggs, hash browns, sausage, and a large Orange Juice? That sounds good." Fubuki said after looking at the menu.

XXXX

Ten minutes later, they had their breakfast in front of them. "Holy, when Zuihou told me that the USN doesn't mess around when it comes to breakfast, she wasn't kidding." Fubuki said, looking at the massive platter in front of her. Truth be told, there was probably enough food in front of her to feed a Kuma-class Light Cruiser Girl. Which boggled Fubuki's mind.

"Eat, what you can Fubuki, same goes for you Kisaragi. Doing big breakfasts here in the United States Navy is par course. It helps us focus when we are in combat, because the last thing you need is to be distracted by hungry stomach. It's to mainly help the pilots when they are on missions that last four or five hours or more." Caboose explained, giving a knowing wink.

Fubuki tentatively took a bite, while it wasn't nowhere near as good as Mamiya's Café, but then again it was close.

XXXX

About an hour later, they had finished breakfast. Fubuki and Kisaragi had both agreed, that while Florida wasn't as good as Mamiya was, but then again Florida was a battleship, as they stood up to leave, music began to play from hidden speakers. Fubuki nor Kisaragi knew what the name of the song was, nor did they know who had wrote it. However Caboose recognized it, and began to sing softly.

As the son of a son of a sailor

I went out on the sea for adventure

Expanding the view of the captain and crew

Like a man just released from indenture

As a dreamer of dreams and a travelin' man

I have chalked up many a mile

Read dozens of books about heroes and crooks

And I learned much from both of their styles

Son of a son, son of a son

Son of a son of a sailor

Son of a gun, load the last ton

One step ahead of the jailer

Now away in the near future

Southeast of disorder

You can shake the hand of the mango man

As he greets you at the border

And the lady she hails from Trinidad

Island of the Spices

Salt for your meat, and cinnamon sweet

And the rum is for all your good vices

Haul the sheet in as we ride on the wind

That our forefathers harnessed before us

Hear the bells ring as the tight rigging sings

It's a son of a gun of a chorus

Where it all ends I can't fathom my friends

If I knew I might toss out my anchor

So I cruise along always searchin' for songs

Not a lawyer a thief or a banker

But a son of a son, son of a son

Son of a son of a sailor

Son of a gun, load the last ton

One step ahead of the jailer

I'm just a son of a son, son of a son

Son of a son of a sailor

The sea's in my veins, my tradition remains

I'm just glad I don't live in a trailer

"Wow, Caboose? What is the name of that song?" Kisaragi asked, after hearing the song.

"That song is a popular favorite, here at the Bar as we call it. It was written by Jimmy Buffet and the song is called Son of a Sailor. Mainly because well it fits how many of us in the Navy are, we are often following in the steps of our fathers or grandfathers or even great grandfathers in some cases. For some reason it's also popular among ship girls as well." Caboose said, grinning.

He then checked his watch and frowned "Crap, we need to get you over to Hickam pronto. I was told to look after you, your flight home leaves in thirty-five minutes, so we better get going." Caboose said with a sigh.

"So is this goodbye for the time being then?" Fubuki asked.

"I am afraid so, don't worry. I won't forget to write." Caboose replied with a wink.

"Good to hear Caboose. I don't know how I could ever repay you. Thanks for all you have done with helping with my rehab." Kisaragi said.

"Kisaragi, you have an incredible gift inside you," Caboose said kneeling down to look Kisaragi in the eyes. "That gift is the fact that you have an incredible will. If anything you have proven the power of the human will. The fact is, your will is nearly unshakable, if any other person had been in your place their will would have failed them very quickly. Yet yours didn't shake." He finished.

"You really think that, I am special?" Kisaragi asked.

"Yes, you have just come out of an incredible ordeal and just like any other human, has been traumatized by it. Now if you are still having those same nightmares that you were having after you came out of your medically induced coma, just write or give me a call. I will personally schedule you to have an appointment with a specialist, so you can undergo an examination for suspected PTSD. But remember your will, and what you pulled off, and you will go far." Caboose said.

Kisaragi nodded in response, a smile beginning to tug at her lips.

"Um, Caboose? What is PTSD? I have never heard of it." Fubuki asked tapping her fingers together.

"Let's walk and talk." Caboose said he then sighed before continuing. "Fubuki, PTSD is an acronym for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, it can develop if a person is exposed to one or more traumatic events. Events in war is one of those sadly. I wouldn't be surprised if Kisaragi developed it." He said grimly.

"I see, Caboose? Do you have PTSD?" Fubuki asked, nervously.

"No, I don't. If I did, I would have been given an honorable discharge on a medical condition. However with all the crap I have seen, I am surprised I don't have it, however I am not complaining." Caboose replied.

XXXX

Twenty-five minutes later, Caboose, Kisaragi, and Fubuki came to the flight line. Fubuki and Kisaragi snapped to attention. "Admiral" they both chorused. Caboose looked franticly around, then slowly faced palmed when he came to the realization that Fubuki and Kisaragi were talking about the man standing in front of them. "It's good to see you again Fubuki, and Kisaragi, everyone is really excited to see you again. When I read the after-action report that had been compiled by Admiral Shane. I was beyond stunned with how successful the mission was. Also, battleship Nevada said she wants to talk you after you see everyone. She has become sort of the de-facto base consular at Yokosuka. She helped Yamato, or Yammy as some of the American Ship Girls call her, get out of her funk over the loss of Aoba." The Japanese Admiral said.

"Alright good to hear." Caboose said, he then looked at Fubuki and Kisaragi and said "I guess, this is goodbye then. I've never been good with them. However, since I don't know when I will see you again. I will try and write whenever I can." To Caboose's surprise, both Fubuki and Kisaragi grabbed him in a hug, which Caboose returned, after pulled apart. Caboose watched the three as they ascended the stairway then got into the C-17. He watched as the big grey Airforce Transport taxied to the runway and then proceeded to take-off and begin its long journey toward Japan. Sighing Caboose headed back toward the Barracks to pack his things then catch a C-17 back to the Mainland United States which would take him to Travis Air Force Base, there he would then get on a C-130 heading to Pope Field which was part of Fort Bragg and thus into the next part of his military career.

XXXX

A/N: Another Chapter has come to an end. Right after this chapter, will be an Epilogue. Thank you for keeping up with this story, it has been a blast writing it.

As always keep an eye on your 180 and give them hell!