Thank you for reading, everyone! Your continued support means a lot to me.
-Aeroutak
The War Room was rather small compared to many of the facilities at Yokosuka Naval District. However, the chamber still comfortably housed the almost two hundred-ship strong force that Yokosuka Naval District was the operating base for.
Admiral Mitsuwa tapped his watch, lighting up the board behind him with a map of scouted positions and sea lanes. There were red lines representing Abyssal positions, the thickness of the lines symbolizing the amount of expected resistance.
There were thin blue lines, old shipping lanes. And there was Japan, cut off on three sides by a thick red line and on the fourth by Abyssal-held ocean. It was pretty similar to the situation she imagined by compiling everything Admiral Mitsuwa and Kirishima had said the day before.
"Your mission," Hyotaru began, "Is to eliminate the threat of the Abyss. Our first step here is to break through the blockade currently enclosing Japan. With the power of the current fleets, we've been able to hold our own for a time now.
"However, supplies are beginning to run short. In the past, Japan has been the world's largest importer of coal and second largest of oil. We've few mineral resources, and the development of our country as well as this fleet's upkeep has taken a large toll on the stockpiled materials.
"In order to continue the fight against the Abyss, you will attempt to reestablish communications with mainland China through Taiwan. The blockade is the only obstacle in the seas as of the moment."
"China's Defense Perimeter is still secure, and combined with the Red Navy, I've deduced that Taiwan is still in human hands. In the event that it is not, you are to turn for the coastal city of Taizhou," Mitsuwa added. Kirov shifted uneasily under the suffocating silence in the room, and she knew what each ship would be thinking.
Who will die tomorrow?
She had felt it too many times herself, being built just as the Abyss emerged from the depths of the Pacific. It was always painful when someone you know became someone you once knew.
"The Admiralty has unanimously agreed to attempt to split the Abyssal forces again. You are to engage and destroy the main battle fleet, hopefully crippling the Abyss long enough for Japan to gather strength."
Mitsuwa placed himself on the right side of the screen as Hyotaru spoke. Picking up a stylus, he drew a roughly triangle shaped formation, spearheaded by a single battleship. Cruisers were arranged in a wedge behind it to provide support but at the same time being able to draw protection, and destroyers were kept in the center, safe until within a reasonable range for a torpedo dive.
"Each of these battle groups of First Fleet combined with Second Fleet support are to lance into Abyssal lines, breaking them into smaller pieces. Third Fleet will cut them apart, and the destroyers in the center of each formation are free to torpedo any survivors at that point. Cruisers and battleships, you are to never stop shelling until they're all dead. Understood?" the Fleet Admiral finished, turning to face the bulk of the shipgirls, his features demanding.
The War Room sounded with sporadic affirmatives.
Fleet Admiral Hyotaru nodded. He then scanned the room, seeming to look for someone. "Admiral Mitsuwa. I believe that I've received word of a...modern ship in your possession, correct?" he inquired, his eyes not leaving the rows of ships seated.
Mitsuwa nodded numbly, throwing a warning glance at Kirov.
"That is correct."
"Would you be so gracious as to bring her to me afterwards? I'd like to have a word with her."
"Not a problem, sir," Mitsuwa answered immediately, although Kirov could easily hear the discomfort at the thought.
Which, in turn, made her shift uncomfortably in her chair. The rest of the briefing was just a lengthy explanation of timing and movements, the coordinated break into the Abyssal lines and at which points to do so.
"For our newest ship. I'll need her to use her missiles as barriers. Fire two salvos to divide the Abyssal fleet into thirds, and keep them apart. That will leave an opening for our conventional fleet to break through."
Of course, all relying on earlier scouts, some as long as three weeks ago, she'd heard. So Kirov sat back in the wooden chair, and looked back onto the world map on her HUD, plotting distances, bases, and unit positions as the officers' voices droned on in the background. The Eurocruiser usually disliked the idea of plans in general, but she acknowledged the fact that they had saved her a few times.
"If I may ask, sir, who will defend Yokosuka while we are on sortie?" A question caught her attention, but the Eurocruiser kept her eyes closed.
Hyotaru smiled. "That will be in the hands of our very own JMSDF. Do not worry, the base will be in good hands."
She quickly opened her eyes as she began to hear shuffling and the scraping on chairs as ships stood. The Eurocruiser stood then as well, sweeping her hair so that it wouldn't puff out with the pressure of being sat on so long.
Deciding to spare Admiral Mitsuwa an intercom call and herself another walk, she parted ways with Kirishima and Atlanta. Turning towards the board, she coaxed her suddenly numb legs into carrying her behind Mitsuwa.
"Ah, there she is. Don't like to keep me waiting, do you, Eurocruiser? Mitsuwa here's told me so much about you," Hyotaru said, placing a hand in his subordinate's hair and ruffling it in what was probably his perspective of affection, or hatred, depending a lot on who you asked.
Kirov lowered her head and glared at Hyotaru, but chose to remain silent.
Hyotaru put on an expression of mock surprise. "Oh my! How so suddenly hostile! I am the Fleet Admiral after all, the commander of all naval activity in Japan! You can trust me," he turned to Mitsuwa.
"I think I'll take her."
Hyotaru stared back at the Eurocruiser, who was still standing rigidly and flashing the Fleet Admiral a death glare. Kirov arched an eyebrow.
What do you mean?
In response, Kirov simply stared back at him, eyes beginning to narrow.
"I'm the one whose fleets keep the Northern perimeter secure, after all."
What considerable Abyssal force could even stay up there that long, with the Motherland on patrol?
Kirov attempted to keep her face straight, however couldn't help but flinch at the decidedly lewd glances Hyotaru kept throwing her way.
Mitsuwa only turned to Kirov.
"I have a mission myself, if you don't mind," she ground out, already knowing Mitsuwa would be doing most of the actual commanding in the thick of action. Kirov doubted Hyotaru could actually effectively fight a fleet of his own. "My purpose here, as stated by my previous Admiral, is simply to help you out of your current situation. To be honest, I didn't imagine a person such as you so high in the chain of command."
Hyotaru appeared almost as furious as Kirov at that point.
"This is an order, Admiral Mitsuwa. You will hand her over!" He nearly spat as he uttered those words.
Mitsuwa's face had gone pale white, as if someone had dusted chalk dust all over it. The Admiral stared back at his superior, and then slowly turned to look at Kirov.
The Eurocruiser gave a slight, but defiant tilt of her head, and closed her eyes. "I will not."
"Why you-"
"That is enough. Both of you, back to your quarters. Fleet Admiral, sir, I'll show you to yours. It is likely that if you pressure Kirov-sama too much, she'll simply refuse to fight."
I wouldn't, but spasibo for the save, Admiral Mitsuwa.
Hyotaru bit his lip, and taking a few breaths, visibly calmed down as his head returned to a more normal hue, still tinged with red. He nodded silently, and followed Mitsuwa.
Kirov sighed, dusting herself off. She knew that Hyotaru did indeed have pretty much absolute power in Japan, with the Navy so vital to Japan's very existence. The Eurocruiser turned towards the door, and took a step.
And suddenly, her head was filled with thoughts, strangely organized thoughts.
That's not what Admiral told you to do. I'll repeat: Your mission is to assist Japan in its breakthrough of the front. You have directly resisted the command of the highest-ranking, and likely most powerful man in Japan at the moment.
Hyotaru says that he's patrolling the Northern border, and that he has a fleet under his command. Meaning that first, he has direct control over a second Naval District, and second, he has considerable influence to be able to control said base and fleet. From what he's shown me today, he is likely incompetent in command. Which leads me to wonder what the ships he has under his control are for.
Ah, why won't you listen to me? I am the one who is supposed to be you. You should be listening to me, Eurocruiser Kirov. I was created as you, and I still am the intended you. Even you said it; you yourself are just a fluke. You...were never supposed to be sentient.
And so when Kongou wandered in a quarter hour later, looking for a missing Kirov, she found the Eurocruiser arguing with herself, likely passing for insane.