This chapter will have like ¼ combat scene. I don't know if other stories have any combat scene or not because I didn't read one that might have yet. So feel free to leave any suggestion for me to improve it. The further the story goes, the more fights will appear. And, Submarine Princess got some feedback back! Wow, that's something.
A/N : Kantai Collection is Kadokawa's, both Anime and Game.
Chapter 10 the Daring Night Raid
"I really swear there was something back there." Area A of section 5-3 always gives off the feeling of being watched by something from the back no matter how many times she has been here. It's not the first time Shigure's here but this is just second time, and she really is not familiar with the area.
The flagship sighs at one of the Torpedo Cruiser's comment. But Admiral Hiyori has already stated it was just their imagination and spun the compass, so they have no choice but to sail toward Area C.
The sun is starting to set and it's too dark to see far ahead without a searchlight from command ship, signaling the beginning of the night raid. But there won't be many fighting for this operation, because during the process of mapping, they already the possible encounter already. They are going through the shortest route, C-D-I-K route.
Right now they're heading toward Area C. Shigure can only pray that there won't be any Torpedo Cruiser this time around, because last time she was here, she was moderately damaged with just the opening torpedo salvo.
It's not a good experience.
/Are you scared, Yuudachi?/ The transmission comes in from the headsets everyone were wearing, not only just Yuudachi's so that everyone will be aware of the less experienced one in the fleet and look out for her.
"I'm not, like, scared, Admiral-san. If I just got scared by dark then I can't, like, get that second remodel thing like Shigure, right?" She is unexpectedly calm despite being distracted by something in front of them, something too far ahead from their current destination. It made Shigure glances sideway from times to times with worrying expression.
The direction Yuudachi's looking is that place, the Iron Bottom Sound. If she's correct then the Admiral might have the same expression as Yuudachi right now in the Command ship back over there. That's the place Isamu Hisoka 'died' after all.
"It's okay to be scared, you know? We don't know if there will be something lurking in the dark or not, hehehe." With a creepy smile and wriggling fingers, Kitakami at the back of the fleet jumps on Ooi in front of her and starts tickling session.
"Please stop, pufu, we are in the middle of, ha..!"
"We're still in the mission, please stop playing around already, Kitakami nee-san." Being told to pipe down by her junior and her best friend Ooi, the goofy Torpedo Cruiser can only sulks and does so.
"Haha, but it's really dark out here, isn't it? There seems to be no moon or even stars tonight." Looking back to the Aviation Cruiser Mogami at her back, Shigure nods and then looks up to the cloudy night sky with a clear sign of storm.
"This rain… will be a fierce one."
/Eh, yeah, it might be a storm if it's this black. After dissipating the next fleet, you girls can come inside the ship and take some rest before dinner. After we break through Area D, it'll be almost dawn when we reach Area I. But firstly, please be ready for the battle!/
With the whole fleet acknowledged her command.
Synchronized answers were shouted.
"Understood!"
And after a while, the heavy rain poured down.
"Enemy sighted! 1 Ru-Class Battle ship, 2 Ri-Class Heavy Cruisers, 1 Chi-Class Torpedo Cruiser, and 2 Ro-Class Destroyers! 12 o'clock, Line Ahead!" Mogami delivered the enemy's information through the transmission. Any voices cannot pierce through the storm anymore no matter how close everyone is to each other.
/Change formation into Line Ahead, ready for torpedo salvo!/
"Change to Line Ahead!"
"Torpedoes are ready!"
The Abyssals have good eyes to see in the dark and don't need a recon plane, searchlight or star shell like Shipgirls. They also prepare the torpedo salvo of their own too, but with only one Torpedo Cruiser, it doesn't even have to consider how strong the opponent was.
The result was the same as Hiyori has expected.
The torpedoes from the Abyssal aimed at Shigure and missed completely, none of them hit the mark. But on the other hand, the Cruisers' torpedoes instantly sunk both of the Destroyers and damages one of the Ri-Class heavily. The strength's difference between both of the fleets is too far apart.
Shigure who has already received her second remodeled has really high stats. Her luck, as the fairies measured, is only second to Yukikaze who is dubbed as a Goddess of Luck. And this is a night battle which Shipgirls with high luck stat can shine brilliantly. Not only they're hard to hit, the possibility of a clear shot (Cut-in) is also high.
With the Battleship as an opponent, the battle dragged out too long and there is no comeback possibility for the Abyssal. Not long after Shigure's searchlight flickered and Yuudachi's star shell shone beneath the rainy black sky, the battle ends.
"Hehe, so this is the power of a Torpedo Cruiser. Man… I'm glad I got to do something." Two of the Abyssal ships were sunk by Kitakami and now she grinned like crazy with Ooi nodding beside her. The battle result is satisfying and they're going back to the Command ship to report and rest like their Admiral has suggested.
The night fells completely when the dinner's ended. Measuring the speed of this Command ship, they'll be at Area D in around 2 hours so Hiyori let the girls rest as they pleased. The rain falls down hard, making a disturbing sound and rocking the ship too violently she has to give up on enjoying tea leisurely. The young and genius Admiral right now just came out from the bridge after consulting with the Captain and suddenly freezes.
"Oh? Admiral-san, it's rare to see you outside the bridge. Are you, like, going back to your room? Want Yuudachi to accompany you there?" The clear green orbs put Hiyori under spell she can't resist. She then smiles and walks up next to Yuudachi.
"It'd be great, but it's better here with you." That's a pickup line she heard when her uncle Hidemasu tried out his luck with some random pretty woman back when she was just 10. Of course, it didn't work, but who'd know that when she uses it, their situation would got swapped instantly. Yuudachi is now blinking at her and utters…
"Unbelievable, did Admiral-san just…?"
"Well, it is cramp in my room so here is better, of course. I don't want to be alone, neither you do, right?" Hiyori's hand creeps away from window frame and make its way up to Yuudachi's. The warmth from the Destroyer's hand starts to heat up and spreads to her.
"Admiral, are you, like, lonely? Yuudachi is here with you so please be kind of really happy, okay?" Yuudachi's toothy grin caught Hiyori off guard and results in her small self inside the Destroyer's embrace. The small yet strong arms that ward of the Abyssal encased her in Yuudachi's comfortable warmth. The genius Admiral did try to resist but just only making it looks like she already resisted and gives in.
The Iron Bottom Sound, they both lost something precious there. Yuudachi's was her life, and Hiyori's was her only family. They can't do anything about themselves but instead, lick each other wounds.
"You're really warm, Yuudachi."
"Hehe, because I have, like, suuuuper high body temperature! Shigure loves to stick together with me in winter but she always ditches me when it's summer." Yuudachi grasped a firm hold of her superior smaller frame and hugs her tighter, like she tries to ease her own worry and loneliness.
"Unlike me, eh?"
It has been like this from her childhood, even before the war broke out. Her skin is really pale and her body temperature is too low. Her colleagues in her Navy school even made a joke about her being the Abyssal herself. It was a hectic school life.
Yuudachi doesn't know anything about Hiyori but only that she always comes to her when no one was around and becomes like this. No one knows, not even Shigure, that this genius naval officer bears too many things on her little shoulder.
And Yuudachi was really scared of when she can't endure the hardship and let it collapse down, burying her alive.
But it didn't happen, just not in her vicinity. Yukikaze asked almost everyone to look after Hiyori that day when the letter arrived. Even the speed freak Shimakaze was willing to listen, and tried to help cheering her up during the trip.
But it was worthless when Yuudachi got a chance to see Hiyori when she came back from Yokosuka Front. The only thing she saw back then was only a doll with nothing inside, driven by her duty to smiles and took care of everything. She really was buried alive by her burden.
"Admiral, please, you have to look after yourself too, okay? Just like the way you look after us. I was, like, heartbroken when I saw you being like this, you know?" The Destroyer's hug goes even tighter and tighter the longer Hiyori stays silent. She can look after herself just fine, but this girl in front of her can't do it. She still has Shigure but Hiyori has no one left. And Yuudachi is the only one who notices that Hiyori averted everyone's eyes from her own problem with this method. Put all of everyone attention to another problem, Yuudachi's problem.
She's glad that Hiyori cares for her, but it's just like Shigure said. She only cares for other, not her own self.
"You said the same thing like Shigure, you two really is sisters." She said while reached her hand up to ruffling Yuudachi's hair. Their eyes locked for a second and then they both part away from each other the next moment. Seeing how red each other's faces are, they can't possibly think of the hug just now as just a comforting hug.
"It's a little bit too warm so it's, like, can't be help? Hehe, Admiral-san's blushing face is so cute." She's grinning like a fool and Hiyori has no choice but to avert her eyes again. Getting a hug from Yuudachi really 'recharge' her willpower to the max.
…and both of them are so soft too.
Hiyori silently looked down to her hands before lets out a relieving sigh. It's hard to say but she can only get a comfortable place to relax like this only around Yuudachi. They're so much alike that Hiyori can't afford to let her 'stress reliever' got sunk by some Abyssal.
She made up her mind and grabs both of the Destroyer's hands.
"I promise I'll take care of myself really well, so please don't sink under my watch, okay? If you go off and got sunk on your own then I can't bear with this pain any longer, and I might as well follow you…"
"You can't. If I sunk, then I'll come back to you no matter how long it'll take. But if you are, like, gone, then I won't have anywhere to come back to, right? Since you told me back then that the place beside you is my home, I don't want it if there's no place to return to." That phrase has lived long in Yuudachi's memory. So long that it makes Hiyori surprised she still remembered it.
It was already two years that she was posted at Rabaul, and if she has to count, it has been 1 year and 8 months that Nagato's fleet brought Yuudachi back from mission. At that time, Yuudachi was nothing like this, she was paranoid and creepy she can't even start the conversation normally. But because of her mental instability, she needs someone to take care of her. At that time, Yuudachi was the only Shuratsuyu-class and she has to take up that role.
It's because of Yuudachi's breakdown after Shigure has arrived at the base that night, this girl cried like there's no tomorrow. As her guardian at the moment, she came to her aid instantly and deal with the crying mad dog.
They became close like this after that event. Because of her loneliness, Hiyori seeks for Yuudachi's warmth instead of Hisoka's. And because of her past, Yuudachi who wants to make amend for her sisters, came to Hiyori for consultation from times to times.
But who'd know that a simple relationship like that would develop this much after a certain event of losing someone.
"If you say it like that then I can't do anything reckless, hmm?"
"That's all rightish, Admiral-san. Uhmm, well, if Admiral-san is free tonight then my room is, like, always open to you! But before that, I'll try to come back unscathed so that we can sleep together, okay?" They have to do everything they can to live the moment to the fullest, because their line of work won't be mercy on them. Hiyori knows this too well and now trying to keep those who she holds dear right beside her. Shigure might understand it as something else but, that girl just thought about it too deep. She just wants Yuudachi to be stronger so that she can withstand the furious tides of war.
"It would be the best if you don't sink at all. The sea might already claim the person I love the most, but I don't want you to go back beneath the surface again. Only once in the past is already enough, isn't it?" The surprised Destroyer can only smile awkwardly and back off resuming to her duty.
"Eeeh, well, I won't, like, sink under your command, Admiral-san! Now if you permit me, I'll have to go and gear myself up for sortie." With her hand's waving a goodbye, Yuudachi turned around and walks along the hallway fading from Hiyori's sight. And with the mad dog gone, the genius Admiral lets out a deep sigh.
"Father, will you be okay if I marry more than one person? Shigure's so cool after her remodel and really caring. Mucchan is always looks after me too. And Nagamon, no, Nagato-san is also so awesome. Then there's Yuudachi-nee too. That's right, Verniy-chan, and Zekamashi-chan too! Hah, one ring is not enough, eh?"
"Maybe you could just marry everyone in the fleet? …Nagamon, huh?" Hiyori followed the source of that muffling noise outside and opens the window. There, sitting on the ship's rail underneath a pouring rain, is the geared up and soaked Kiso.
"Kiso-san! Why are you outside!? Please come in-"
"No, no, it's alright. I just went for a warm up a little bit. You and Yuudachi are surprisingly close, hmm?" That teasing tone from the always-so-serious Kiso is new. Hiyori looks aside trying to avoid eyes contact and that, only makes Kiso laugh out wholeheartedly.
"I, I just…"
"It's alright, isn't it? It's not that girl who needs to be pampered but you, Admiral. But marrying a whole fleet may be too much, but it's just a provisional marriage. You really are lonely, huh? Yes, that's why this onee-san will pamper you a lot after this!" Kiso's words showered Hiyori with embarrassment and almost made her cower in shame. But when she thought about it for a second, she finds a way she can get back to the Cruiser.
"Kiso-san, you said 'whole fleet', right? So you want to get married, too?" Now it's a payback time! The Admiral starts to grin and chuckles at her conversation partner. Making it worse for Kiso who can only blinks in the state of shock.
"You little… Haa, if I said yes what would you do?"
"Find more ring?"
They stare at each other in silent.
"You want a harem or something?"
"And I want Kiso-san in it, so will you agree being my wife?"
…and then there's another moment of silent before Kiso runs away from the conversation by dropping from the railing into the ocean.
"Kiso-san you sore loser!"
"…I didn't lose!"
So she was loved this much by her subordinates? Hiyori didn't know about this before and now standing still, tries to absorb what she just heard from Kiso and clarified this situation. Even the serious and cool Torpedo Cruiser like Kiso, who was the first on the got remodeled, can be this caring because of her father's death.
"If he sees me right now… I wonder, will you be proud of me, father?" Reaching up to her breast pocket, the feeling of a paper underneath the thick fabric eases her mind and calms her down. She can't say she's already over with the death of her only family, but she can't let this feeling ties her down and makes her subordinates worried.
"What's gone is gone, people can't undo the past. But please rest easy, I'll avenge you for sure." Hiyori calms her heart down with the thought of her father's gentle smile. For those who turned against Isamu, their death is guaranteed. Hisoka always make sure that this fact will be held true in every situation, and she'll do the same.
Those who hurt her family will not walk away unscathed.
And her family is not only herself and her dead father anymore, those girls who will always care for her are her family too. Abyssal or the Navy, if they do them any harm, they'll pay.
But now that their destination's approaching, Hiyori escaped her thought stream and now walks back toward the bridge to be ready to issues any command right away.
The Area D is right in front of their eyes, the battle will now begins.
"Enemy's fleet sighted, it is pattern 2! 1 Ta-Class Battleship, 3 Ri-Class Heavy Cruisers, 1 Ha-Class Destroyer, and 1 Ro-Class Destroyer!" Their only pair of eyes in the depth of furious and stormy night relays her words into the headset communicator. Both the Fleet and Command ship acknowledge the report and changed into the assigned formation issued by Admiral Hiyori.
Line Ahead is always good when you're the one assaulting with torpedoes. But this is a night battle, no matter how good the fleet formation is, if the attacks miss then there's no point. And that's why it is the time for individuals to shine during night battle.
Shigure, the fleet's flagship, knows truly well how to survive the night battle, it is a result from always having lunches with the one and only Night Battle Maniac, Sendai.
Destroyers have good speed and high evasion rate resulted from their small armaments, and thus, their role were always being decoys or escort ships aka Meat shields. But she knows how scary Destroyers can be with her friend being the example. Shimakaze and Verniy are agile and good with torpedoes.
But in her case, it's evasion rate and aim.
/Approximately T minus 30 seconds until contact./
The data transmitted to the Command ship rushes Hiyori to order her subordinates to get into position. Night Battle is a battle that every moment is unpredictable. And in such a battle with low vision and uncertainty, one of the Ship-girls might get sunk immediately if she's not careful.
She doesn't want to make a mistake any more.
"Enemy sighted!"
/Shigure! Yuudachi!/
As commanded, both girls from Shiratsuyu-Class respond as they already planned out with their superior. Yuudachi with her Star shells readied, aimed above the incoming enemy's fleet and shoots what that would give them vision in this battle. The light from star shell shines brightly, illuminating the whole Abyssal fleet, almost blinding them in the process of surprise attack.
Night Battle is dangerous and needs vision to continue on to victory. There are three ways to fulfill that needs, one is the Star shells Yuudachi just fired which has no downside, next is the Type 98 Recon Seaplane from Mogami, and the last which will make user becomes a target…
The Searchlight in Shigure's hands was activated, granting a better vision for her fleet. But the enemy's shift of attention the next moment almost made her drown in their killing intents.
Shigure knows this and understands why she got this role of being a decoy and a moving target with clear sight for the enemies to attack. But she can't leave this job to the one with highest battle level in this fleet because Torpedo Cruiser can't equip Searchlight. And with her measured luck is high enough that she could get a clear hit on the enemy fleet's flagship before she got attacked.
"Too bad, I will not let you do any harm to my comrades…"
Still maintaining the distance between both of the fleet, Shigure who is in the front of the formation took her aim and fires with the Improved 12.7 Twin Mount Type B, which was followed by the launch of 61cm Oxygen Torpedoes.
To aim precisely while moving at full 34 knots speed is not easy. But just as everyone who saw her battle stats thought, her luck is not just for show. Enemy's flagship Ta-Class Battleship was downed in one clear coordinated hit of Oxygen Torpedoes and calculated shots.
"It's true, we Destroyers are not inferior to
With their first attack landed and succeeded in doing a killing blow, the other girls' morale go up almost reaching their peak. Despite being in a life-or-death situation, with their flagship as calm as their base-front port, the possibility for a mistake to happened is nigh.
"….how about thiiis?"
Both of the 12.7 Twin Gun Mount installed on Yuudachi's battle gear move to face her enemy. Four muzzles point in the direction of the poor Ri-Class Heavy Cruiser and fired. Most of the shots hit home but the second volley didn't land. The damage is not enough to sink the heavily armored Abyssal's ship.
It's time for retaliation.
The crippled Heavy Cruiser groaned with a restrained scream while readying her cannons to take one of the enemies down with her to the bottom of this raging sea. The possibility of getting a clear shot is high because they're in the advantage when it comes to fighting in the dark. The sudden light from Star shells caught them off guard, and it resulted in the sinking of their flagship.
"I'm not… going to… sink... again!"
The cannons were fired rapidly accompanying by high speed torpedoes. Their target is not Yuudachi who damaged the Heavy Cruiser but the easier target with more chance of scoring a hit.
The barrage was directed to Shigure.
The explosions sounded and pierce through the sounds of heavy rain and strong waves. Yuudachi who was closest to the hit Destroyer rushes up to her sister with a worrying face. But her worry was dissipated soon after by its subject. Shigure's still holding her ground on the fierce waves will gritting her teeth, enduring the pain.
"I… was hit? Now that's really unfortunate. It's alright, Yuudachi, don't worry about me." This is not about her luck or enemy's bad aim, but purely Shigure's speed and experiences alone when she lunged sideward to avoid the torpedoes and cannon's shots.
The shots only grazed her left arm a little, and only her clothing and gears were affected by enemy's attack and during the explosion.
She was just slightly damaged, but she's still damaged.
Yuudachi grinds her fangs together in rage while shoots a barrage of bullets at the unfinished Ri-Class to limited the movements or any chance to change the formation.
"Hoh, I can't let the Destroyers steal the spotlight, could I? Ooichi?" The senior of Torpedo Cruisers in the fleet speaks to one of her sister ships and the silent agreement was done the instant their eyes met. Neglecting the gun in their right hand and move away from the fixed formation to the left and right side of the fleet, they launch their first set of the proud 61cm Oxygen Torpedoes to disrupt the enemy's formation.
"The next salvo is ready. Do your job, Type-93 Oxygen torpedoes!" This salvo leads by Ooi's and finally takes down the wounded Ri-Class Heavy Cruiser. But to think that Ooi'd be unexpectedly merciful to send Ha-Class Destroyer down to the Abyss with her victim too, Kiso who was pressuring the enemy fleet's survivors let out an inaudible sigh. If her sisters take this thing seriously, she'd be really glad.
"Well, your thought's already on your face, you know? Kiso? I know it's boring but we'll you in full power when we face Area K's submarine. So suck it up and fire more! But these guys… If you're gonna come, come!" And after that, a full strength of Aviation Cruiser is displayed with a loud explosion, and a piercing scream from heavily damaged Ro-Class. Even though she is an Aviation Cruiser, she was Heavy Cruiser which was called the 'Pocket Battleship' before, she truly knows her things with those guns.
The battle is getting tenser and tenser every seconds passed. The Abyssal fleet with only 2 slightly damaged Heavy Cruisers and heavily damaged Destroyer is nothing. The resistance is futile but they're not the same with Ship-girls. Abyss is their home. If they sunk, they will eventually come back some day in the future. But Ship-girls are not like that, the way their foes are fighting until death with malicious hatred reeking from their gazes is sickening.
With such killing intent, it's certain that they won't back down easily even there's one of them left alone in front of the girls. They don't have anything to lose, unlike Ship-girls. The Abyssal are no longer human, and without Battleship with them, a fleet with only small and medium size level Ship-girls cannot resist them in close range. If they let the enemy get closer than this, there'll be casualty for sure.
As a flagship, Shigure can't let that happen.
The person behind them is too important, and if she lets Hiyori sees another death now, it'll post problem in many ways possible. But at that moment she tries to do something…
"Mogami-san! Kiso-san! Please…!" Without letting any of the mentioned persons respond to the pleading-like command from an escort ship. Yuudachi leaves Shigure's side and rushes out in front of the fleet, getting the attention of their enemies.
/Yuudachi-nee!? What are you…!?/
Who could have knows what's going on in that head of hers when the enemies only target her sister. They fired almost every life ammunition they have to pressuring the enemies, but the Abyssal are still closing in like there'll be no tomorrow. This puts pressure on both their fleet and Yuudachi's mind.
The remaining girls in the fleet can only watch in awe at the lowest battle level Ship-girl in the fleet rushing out amidst the bullets and gunfire. Mogami and Kiso didn't stop shooting but they change their priority from pressuring to providing a cover fires.
"Yuudachi! What're you doing!? Get back or I'll-" Her words and action was cut off by the Torpedo Cruiser and Aviation Cruiser's action. Both of them were at the back of the fleet just moment ago, but now they're right beside Shigure to take the role of flagship protecting.
"Cover her! You're the flagship, out there's not your place!" The enemies' gunfire is getting too wilder and scarier to intervene. They're bigger targets so they can't rush out there, and the only one possible to help is the flagship who's holding onto the Searchlight to provide them with the vision. Shigure can get Mogami to use the Searchlight for her and rushes out, but the covering fire will be weaker and before she can get to Yuudachi, it might already be too late.
"…Admiral, order me, please!"
/No, you're already damaged, and considering the others' role when we'll attack the Transport Fleet, I can't send anyone out there./
Shigure's voice starts to get husky…
"But she's my sister…!"
/She's important to me just like she is to you, I won't let anything happen to her too. But she has the Damage Control Crew with her, and beside that, Shigure, takes a closer look…/ While Shigure was debating with herself, Yuudachi on the other hand is already inside the sure-hit range of the enemies' Destroyer.
But she hasn't taken any damage yet. No, she avoided all of it.
"The ferocious hound, it's a name befitting her performance." Kiso forces it out as a compliment with a grimace expression. The situation is still at their side's advantage, but only miracle happens that Yuudachi will survive a close range fight with Abyssal!
The ferocious hound is fast, but only as her gears can let her be. But her reaction speed is getting sharper and sharper, just like her old self from the Sound southeast from this place is back here alive. Every shot will be counted and she's acting as a decoy to draw the enemies' attention away from main fleet. She's not only racing with time until they notice what she's doing, but she's also racing with inner self.
The fear of leaving others alone, the fear of being left alone, and the fear of dark and cold abyss are reliving as a nightmare in the back of her mind. She doesn't want to be in that situation or wants others to be in that situation anymore. This action will be treated as disobeying the order of the superior, but she's not planning to sink or running from the consequences of her action.
The purpose of this mission is to make her stronger. And she'll be stronger starting right this moment!
"Hmm… should I do a little bit more? Like, sinking, I mean." The torpedo tubes mounted on her left thigh launched all of the torpedoes it has into the raging waves as she takes a sharp turn from running away to facing her enemies.
"Admiral, I think I might waste a little bit of my lifespan to survive this. But please safe me from scolding if I got back, like, in one piece, okay?" The only answer she got was an intimidating silent and quiet breathing from Hiyori. It was that moment when she was about to gives up on hearing her superior's voice that she was shocked.
/Even if you come back in one piece, I'm not going to save you from Shigure. And I'll scold you myself! So get back safely for me, you stupid dog!/ That insult only made Yuudachi's smile widen. An insult with that pouting voice charges the mad dog up with will to survive this mess. And thus, a happy grin grew wilder into a smile filled with malicious intents.
"Then please watch me, I'll show you the nightmare of Solomon." Yuudachi's voice when she said that gives Hiyori who was at the other side of this communication a chill. The conversation was hold without facing each other directly, and it really did Yuudachi a good favor. If she talked to Hiyori face to face earlier, it could have left a bad impression of her to her superior. Of course, even a genius naval officer might get scared by the amount excitement she felt just now.
"Now then, let's move on to the matter at hands. This is troubling, isn't it? There's like, so many targets to choose from." It might not be certain but one of the survived Ri-Class Heavy Cruisers saw a glimpse of red light of those emerald eyes of the Ship-girl who was supposed to be an easy prey. Despite realizing what she saw, it was her last moment when the heavily damaged Ro-Class tries to tell her something.
It was no coincidence. The torpedoes Yuudachi launched…, dropped earlier were slowly making their way to the closing in Heavy Cruiser and explode. Heavy Cruiser is a strong ship, armed with armament second only to Battleship and reinforced with high quality armor to avoid sinking in one shot from the enemy.
Ri-Class survived the torpedo salvo with her left side's equipment disabled and lost almost all of the armor. If she just got shot by the weakest gun available for Ship-girl, she might simply sink.
The origin of those torpedo must be the Torpedo Cruisers she saw in the main fleet, and she as she realize that, the real culprit who was neglected by the easiest target to sink aims her gun. With a loud bang and a hole through the one of the Heavy Cruisers' side, Yuudachi's first victim in this battle sunk to the Abyss.
"More, I want like, a lot more preys! Let's start the greatest party ever, and you're like, invited too! Hahaha!" The ferocious hound suddenly kicked off from the sea surface leaving a huge explosion behind, the speed right now is rivaling the fastest Shimakaze and might be even faster.
The only enemies left are heavily damaged Ro-Class Destroyer and slightly damaged Ri-Class Heavy Cruiser. Her comrade did their jobs pretty well dwindling down the enemies' battle power. Now with the only two left, Yuudachi who has Damage Control Crew with her will finish these two of the remaining enemy.
"First one is you..!" The gun in Yuudachi's hand lifted up and aims to the nearest enemy ship with a hundred percent hit chance. Even though she's just a Destroyer, the enemy right before her has lost almost everything but a will to fight 'till death. She admired their will, but the enemy is still enemy.
With her eyes wide open and adrenaline rushing in her blood veins, the nightmare of Solomon fires her gun at the almost point blank range while moving passes her target. And to guarantee that there will be no literal backbiting, Yuudachi left one torpedo with the howling Destroyer blowing it to pieces.
But paying no mind to her sinking comrade, Ri-Class Heavy Cruiser sails back and fired her cannons at Yuudachi.
"Ugh!"
Still, Destroyer is an easy prey for Heavy Cruiser, but she'll sink this foe down with their comrades. Yuudachi grinds her teeth together to resist screaming out loud. Rapid firing Cannon's still showering her and limiting her route. The gunpowder reeks through the moist air as the sparks from gunfire spreads like a deathly flower.
She can still fight, but her gears are giving in to the amount of pressure from her usage and the damages from gunfire. This Ri-Class aimed for her only to make her moves to avoid getting hit, and shoots her gears instead of her body. She hasn't felt this sensation for such a long while after that battle which triggering the nightmare in her mind.
"I'm like, sorry to leave you alone. But I can't go down to meet you right now, Harusame!" The battle in the past has no place in the heat of this moment! Yuudachi scolds herself from losing focus and glance back at her fleet. The distance is growing and the cover fires are losing its purpose at this range.
She's all alone with this monster right now.
And being the only survivor of the fleet left, she have to report to her superior about this ridiculously strong Destroyer. Ri-Class grumbled with hesitation and shouts.
"Don't come…!"
It was not her first time hearing the Abyssal talks but this is rather new, this Ri-Class didn't curse her 'sink' like others. But even though it's like that, she never has any intention of letting the enemy goes away unharmed. She won't let those who hurt her comrades get away easily with just pleading.
"You're not gonna like, …get away that easily!"
And as about she is going to kick off again to lunge at the Heavy Cruiser, her gears gave off a crack sound as a warning of over usage. It'll break if she's not careful from now on, these gears are Ship-girls' live. Just like that the armaments are what making warships a warships, these gears are the same. If it's break, her carrier as Ship-girl will end unconditionally.
Seeing the pause in the assault, Ri-Class turns heels and starts to run at highest speed her condition can sustain. The shots fired from Yuudachi rarely hit the target, but the ones that hit did the enormous amount of damage. It's also slowing the fleeing enemy down, allowed Yuudachi who has her speed lessened to keep up and pursues the survivor.
The Damage Control Crew won't get her back to top condition like Repair Goddess, and she still have to take part in attacking the Transport Fleet that has Southern Ocean War Princess as an escort. That's why losing the Crew right now will be bad if she can't dodge or avoid the attack from the Princess.
Yuudachi who has already knows the end of this battle clicked her tongue. Letting the enemy goes is not to her liking, but she's not that strong to be able to finishes off a moderately damaged Heavy Cruiser. Her gears are not good enough to let her perform well, and the fact that she drew away the enemies' attention from Shigure is satisfying.
"Too bad, one of them is like, get away in one piece…"
The night battle ends and now it's time for punishment. Yuudachi breathes in a lungful of salty air while looking up at the cloudy night sky. The storm has starting to stop and toned down, leaving only calm and soothing rain to heal the wounds.
/It's such a nice rain, isn't it?/
A familiar voice rang up in her ear. The tone was worrisome to the extent that Yuudachi can guess how the speaker's face is right now. The battle ridden ferocious hound slowly sighs, readying herself for an incoming scolding session from her sister-ship.
"It's a nice rain because we're still like, under the same sky, Shigure." She heard a quiet gasp and tried to suppress her chuckle before waiting for the other side's respond.
/Yeah, it's a nice rain because we're still up here above the surface. Please refrain yourself from doing something that reckless again, alright?/ What Yuudachi finds out about that reprimand from her sister was that Shigure's voice is shaking. It seriously does make her feels bad about her action, but on the other hand, she's happy because there's someone who will wait for her.
"Promise, the pinky will like, have to wait for a little while though. I'm coming back to the Command ship right now. So, wait inside and like, dry yourself off, okay?" The clear respond she heard the next moment plastered a huge grin on her face, and then the communication was cut off. But just before she can move, the next one comes in.
/Yuudachi-nee, are you okay?/
"Uhmm, Admiral? I'm like, sorry? I got damaged this bad and it might affect tomorrow's fight…" Her self confidence is now got with the sea waves when she heard Hiyori's question. Just after she calm herself down, now she's all excited again because of this bewitching voice full of concern.
/If you're alright then it's okay. We can retreat-/
"No, Admiral, I can fight after a little bit of a rest and I still like, have the Damage Control Crew with me, so please don't worry too much!" She said with a giggle and brings her arms up wrapping around her own body that got drenched by rain. It's a bit cold but she can still manage to hang on a little longer.
/I'll have a hot cup of cocoa ready for you when you're here, so please come back quickly and warm up./ Normally Hiyori only drinks coffee but now it's her favorite instead that she brought to this mission? Yuudachi tries to stuff her cheek with air to hide her smile, and by pouting for no reason.
It's not like Hiyori will see it anyway.
"Alrighty, but please like, scold me gently, ne?" She can only hear a heartfelt laughter before the communication got cut off by the other side. Even though a battle was a bit dangerous, but bringing her who is not used to combat has its own risk. Yuudachi can imagine how Hiyori would beat herself up if she decided to pursue the fleeing Ri-Class back then and got sunk.
It's good that she survived…
"Look like I can't act recklessly without command anymore, the gears will like, cry that way." And with a quick look over her shoulder, Yuudachi shook her head and ready herself for repair session tonight. It'll be a long night and she hopes that Shigure and Hiyori will let her rest before the scolding begins.
But as Yuudachi was about to move, the Destroyer suddenly stumbled forward and almost falls down face first to the sea. She felt like there's something pushing her forward but it was the exact same time she heard a bang, following by smokes which coming from her gears.
…this will need a huge repairing, is what she thought. The ferocious hound shrugged her feeling that something was wrong away and continues onward back to the Command ship.
But little did she know…
That at the spot she was before, a suspicious voice is resounding from the depth of the abyss.
"Now you're 'it', let's play~"