It will begin soon...
0200 and the ship girls participating in the operation, finishes their preparation for the upcoming battle. Everyone smiled upon the greeting of a new dawn, Mutsuki slipped on her jacket, both Yuudachi and Sendai wore their scarf, Jintsuu tied her green headband, and Kongou wore her radar headband.
"Let's go, poi!" Yuudachi jumped
"Wait up!" Mutsuki followed immediately
The others have finished their preparation and readies themselves to face the battle waiting for them.
"Oh, secretary Nagato. Excited I see..." Yamato happened to see Nagato
"Yeah. I've been waiting to test my Kai ni on a Princess class"
Nagato clenched her fist, showing her 'enthusiasm' for the operation. Yamato smiled seeing the secretary ship in high spirits.
"How about you?" They talked as they walked together
"You could say I always wanted to try firing my 46cm cannons at a Princess class as well"
"As the flagship of the Main attack fleet, I'll be counting on your fleet's support"
"You can count on us, the Secondary assault fleet"
Even if Yamato's gentle smile and Nagato's confident smug contrast, it is clear the two are close battleship comrades who rely on each other.
"Night battle, night battle!"
"For the last time nee-san, it's not a night battle"
"No matter what battle it is, my Burning Love is sure to hit"
"Uuugh. Why does it have to be so early in the morning?"
Mutsuki and Yuudachi reached the port where everyone prepares to sail. It seems they are all looking forward to the large scale operation...
"Alright. Southern attack force, Secondary assault force, and Carrier force. Set sail!"
On Nagato's signal, the three fleets set sail with other ship girls waving goodbye.
Later...
At 0400, the Carrier fleet had separated to intercept Abyssal Force X while the other two fleets head towards to the Southern anchorage and rendezvous with Kure's Southern attack fleet.
"Estimated time of arrival at the target location...three hours" Jintsuu updated
Everyone is confident and looking forward for the battle while Mutsuki herself feels anxious for some reason.
"What's wrong, poi?"
"I feel a little worried for the carrier fleet..." Mutsuki smiled wryly
"That's not really necessary" Nagato smiled
"Nagato-san?"
"Taihou is the flagship so there's nothing to worried about"
Taihou is one of their well experienced carriers and reliable flagships so both Nagato and Yamato are not worried.
"There's no point in doubting our comrades, Mutsuki-san" Yamato joined in
"I, I'm not doubting them...just worried..."
Mutsuki has an uneasy feeling she can't describe nor explain. It's the same feeling she always had when something bad is about to happen...
"It's nice to worry for your comrades, but don't worry too much"
"Nagato's right, Mutsuki-san. Let's just believe they will definitely succeed"
"R-right!"
Mutsuki brightened up her smile and tried to think on the positive side.
Carrier fleet...
The aircraft carrier Shoukaku and Zuikaku had sent out scout planes to confirm the presence of Force X after submarine I-58 tailed the enemy fleet.
"Flagship, my scouts had spotted the enemy fleet at the best estimated position" Shoukaku reported to Taihou
"My scouts as well. Fleet consisted of two battleship Ru class, three Heavy cruiser Ri class, four destroyer Ro class and the Southern War Demon"
Taihou nodded at Shoukaku and Zuikaku's report. She thought for a while as her squadmates await their flagship's next order.
"Alright. Equip your planes with bombers and head to intercept Force X"
The carrier fleet continued to sail and prepares themselves to intercept Southern War Demon's fleet. What they don't know is an Abyssal Hawk plane is secretly tailing them.
"..." The patrol plane reported it to an Abyssal standard carrier
Unknown to the patrol plane, it was sighted by another Abyssal standing in the open seas. Without a second thought, the Abyssal tailed the Abyssal plane returning to its carrier.
"...?" A Wo class stood by with three destroyers and two light cruiser To class escorts
Before the patrol plane could return to the Abyssal standard carrier, it was shot down with a direct shell hit. Before the Abyssals could react, torpedoes struck them, sinking one of the destroyers.
"So you were waiting here the whole time"
"...?!" The Wo class recognized the figure
"Thank you for leading me to your location. I couldn't have found you if it wasn't for that plane flying in the open"
The other Abyssals are heavily damaged from the eight torpedoes that directly hit them.
"This is as far as all of you goes..."
It's unheard of, for an Abyssal to attack a fellow Abyssal. It doesn't matter now...the enemy is obviously on the front.
"10 kilometers more and we'll be in range"
Taihou, Shoukaku, and Zuikaku prepared to launch their planes once in range. Her escorts Kitakami, Aoba, and Kinugasa prepared as well.
(Admiral...)
The armored aircraft carrier recalled her conversation with the admiral the night before the operation.
"Proceed with caution at every minute that passes?" She tilted her head
"Yes"
"The interception of Force X is an ambush operation against one of their capital ships. I'm not going to erase the possibility that they are aware of our plans"
Taihou is aware that the Admiral always assumes for the worst as she had "a bad past with Abyssals".
"Then what do you suggest I do, Admiral?"
"Fate is always watching. Assume those whose malice is born from the Abyss will rise again"
She didn't understand what she meant, but knowing the Admiral...she'll understand sooner or later.
"Flagship! 2 km before we enter aircraft range" Shoukaku reminded Taihou
"Aircraft carriers! Launch the first wave of bomber squadrons at my command!"
Taihou loaded her repeating crossbow while Shoukaku and Zuikaku drew their bows. The Southern War Demon continued to sail not knowing the carrier fleet preparing to intercept her fleet.
"Launch the first wave of attack!"
With a command, all three carriers launch three squadrons each and filled the air with dive and torpedo bombers.
"...?!" Southern War Demon noticed the countless ship girl aircrafts in the sky
With an ticked off expression, Southern War Demon and her escorts fought off against the bombers.
"Pesky ship girls!"
She couldn't aim and fire properly with dive bombers almost hitting her.
"One Heavy cruiser Ri class and two Destroyer Ro class has sunk" Zuikaku reported
"Now launch one squadron of fighter planes" Taihou commanded
Just as Southern War Demon tries to recover from the sudden attack of numerous dive bombers and torpedo bombers, more planes arrived.
"What now-?!" She was struck by one fighter plane, but she shot it down
With the bombing continuing, her escorts were sunk one by one by the ship girl's improved aircrafts.
"Southern War Demon has taken moderate damage" One of Taihou's aircrafts reported
"Heeeeh so it's armor is worse than my armor" Kitakami rubbed her chin
Because of the damage Southern War Demon took, she couldn't launch her own planes. Rage inside her continued to grow as the bombings never cease to end.
"I...won't...be beaten again!"
There is no way she can win this yet she refused to admit it and submit to yet another humiliating defeat.
(No...never again...will I be...defeated...like this...)
Images of her former self as Southern Demon flashed within her thoughts. Smoke and fire everywhere and a ship girl with a black cross in her uniform glared at her...filled with vengeance.
"I will not submit to defeat!"
Southern War Demon refuses to lose against ship girls so she drew out all of her strength into the current battle.
"Hmm. I see. Five of the nine escort Abyssals have been sunk"
Shoukaku and Zuikaku both listened to their comrades planes' report of the current situation.
"The remaining Ru class battleship, and two Ri class heavy cruiser have sunk!"
When Shoukaku reported that only the Southern War Demon remained, everyone else but Taihou is smiling victoriously.
"Southern War Demon is starting to capsize to starboard!" Zuikaku added
After many direct hits by torpedoes and bombings, the enemy flagship got heavily damaged and is on fire. Southern War Demon has begun to capsize.
"No...way...how could this...happen..."
The fire won't stop as she continued to slowly capsize. Her weapons and rigging aren't functioning anymore while her armor cracks and shatters one by one.
(When things go this easily, something is definitely wrong) Taihou's hand tensed
"Flagship, should we do them in?" Kitakami waved her hand
Taihou nodded and the heavy cruisers Aoba, Kinugasa, and torpedo cruiser Kitakami went off to finish the Southern War Demon.
Southern attack force...
While Yamato and Nagato's fleet near the Southern anchorage, a radio message was sent to Nagato by Taihou.
"What?! Is that so? I see...very well" Nagato smirked
"What's wrong?" Yamato looked at her
"It's Taihou. The carrier fleet has succeeded in intercepting and eliminating Force X!"
Everyone went 'Ooh' and is very glad to hear the news. Mutsuki finally sighed in relief, upon hearing the carrier fleet has succeeded in their task.
"They did it, poi!" Yuudachi raised her arms
"We can't celebrate yet. We still have to attack the Southern anchorage"
Nagato reminded her squadmates and comrades. They reverted back to their serious demeanor and focused on the primary objective.
"See? There's nothing to worry about, poi" Yuudachi smirked at Mutsuki
"Y-yeah. I worried for nothing" Mutsuki wryly smiled
"Onwards to victory! Ahahahaha!"
Like always, Sendai excitedly exclaimed as she couldn't contain her excitement.
"Nee-san, that's a bit embarrassing" Jintsuu cracked her knuckles
The others laughed like the old days as they head to their target destination. On the other hand, Harbor summer Princess remained calm despite the threat of ship girls.
"Hmm? So the hot blooded idiot sunk? Well she's not very durable" She petted her rigging
"It's not over yet..." Battleship Princess sat on her pet's palm
"Right, right..."
A PT imp pack slowly waved a fan on her, but when she glared at the little monstrosity, the latter quickened the motion.
"They belittled us long enough. It's time we show them what Abyssals are really made of"
"Yeah. We won't let them win this time..." Battleship Princess smirked mischievously
Maizuru Naval district...
A few minutes after the successful interception, Taihou radioed the Naval base and reported the battle.
"Admiral! The carrier fleet has succeeded in intercepting and eliminated Force X!" Ooyodo is visibly glad
"My, my. They've really done it" Mutsu had just brought coffee to the Admiral
"..." She is silent
She deeply thought for a brief moment before looking at a puzzled Ooyodo.
"The Southern attack force?"
"Ah yes! They should have met with Kure's main fleet and begin the assault"
"I see..."
Mutsu and Ooyodo seemed confused to why the admiral looked more uneasy rather than satisfied.
"You don't look happy, admiral"
"As long as the operation isn't over, there's no reason to celebrate"
"Right. This is a large scale operation after all..." Mutsu sighed
"Order the carrier fleet to return to the base once they finished assessing the battle"
"Yes!"
Ooyodo immediately radioed the admiral's orders to the flagship of the carrier force. Taihou silently nodded after receiving the orders.
"Alright. Let's finish the overview of the battlefield"
"Then?" Kinugasa tilted her head
"Then we are to return to the base to report the accomplished task"
With the battle over, the others breathed deeply and begun to feel relaxed. The scout planes circled the battlefield where the Southern War Demon has sunk.
"...!"
Taihou gasped when she felt a sudden change in the air. It's not just her, but a certain Abyssal felt the drastic change in atmosphere. The remains of what seems to be parts from Abyssal floated around her.
"So they were waiting for the right moment this whole time, huh..."
In her hand is the remain of a patrol Hawk plane. She then tossed away after examining the useless junk.
"...But the battle isn't over"
She looked over into the horizon with the heavy atmosphere still lingering in the air. She disliked the feeling that the wind had brought into the sea.
"They're in danger..."
She frowned while the breeze continued to gently blow over the wide horizon.
"What's wrong, flagship?" Shoukaku worries for Taihou
"This feeling..."
One of Zuikaku's observation planes circled around the area where the battle occurred. Before the fairy piloting the aircraft could report to the aircraft carrier, the plane is mysteriously shot down. The shell came from the smoke that has yet to fade away.
"One of my planes were shot down!" Zuikaku is in disbelief
"Mine as well!" Shoukaku as well
The planes checking the area where all shot down one by one by a figure inside the fading smoke. A violent wind blew to the surroundings, making the ship girls cover their eyes...and hold their skirts.
"Rrrrrr...uuuaaaaaghhhh!" A shrilling roar echoed
Another wave of strong wind blew past them. In the fading smoke, bright red eyes peaked through the scenery. Teeth clenched, rigging moving, and eyes fiercely glared...
"You had better fall to the bottom...as many times as you like!"
The six ship girls in great shock, stood frozen as the sunken enemy returned to the surface with a change in appearance and increase in power.
"...!"
Southern War Demon now Southern War Princess let out a siren like cry, irritating the ship girls' hearing. Various Abyssals emerged out of the water, outnumbering the carrier fleet.
"H-hey...this isn't looking good..." Aoba shivered
"It can't be" Shoukaku covered her mouth
"Hey what do we do now?" Kinugasa looked at Taihou
"Isn't it obvious?"
"...?"
"We sunk her before, we're going to do it again"
Taihou loaded her repeating crossbow and the crane sisters prepared to launch planes as well. Aoba, Kinugasa, and Kitakami prepared to face the Abyssal fleet.
(This is no good...Admiral, is this what you meant?)
Taihou admitted to herself that they have little chance of getting out of the battle alive. She then thought at the Admiral's cryptic statement the day before this battle.
Meanwhile...
No matter how many they sink, it looked like the enemy's numbers aren't decreasing at all. The carriers have to conserve in launching their planes as they will run out soon.
"This is so annoying!" Kinugasa complained
"I hate destroyers, but these destroyers are on a different level"
Kitakami can't launch her torpedoes with destroyers raining shells on her. Southern War Princess' floating Fortresses shot down the ship girl planes aiming at her. Torpedoes and bombs have no effect on her with a barrier protecting the War Princess.
"Even if we sink the escorts, if we don't sink that Abyssal...we can't win"
Shoukaku made a point and Taihou has a hard time figuring out how to sink Southern War Princess.
"Flagship, what's our plan?" Zuikaku looked at Taihou
"We have to focus in reducing their numbers first before putting all of ours efforts in sinking the enemy flagship"
Their bombers and fighters focused on sinking the enemy destroyers, light cruisers, and heavy cruisers.
Somewhere, still looking at the vast ocean...
"I can feel that power again. What's going on?"
The certain Abyssal - Fubuki bit the side of her lip as she felt a force that is akin to an Abyssal. Like a moth to a flame, she is drawn to the source of the heavy force.
Carrier fleet...
The exchange of shells continued as the crossfire never ceased to end. Aoba and Kinugasa are getting exhausted while Kitakami is trying to conserve the sixteen torpedoes she has left.
"How long till reinforcements arrive?" Zuikaku asked her sister
"Even at the assault fleet's top speed it will take them an hour!"
(What abysmal luck we have...)
Taihou launched another squadron after more of her fighters were shot down.
"Fall...fall...!" Bloodthirsty intent flashed in the Abyssal's eyes after two of her floating Fortresses were shot down
Kinugasa and Aoba are forced to withdraw after Southern War Princess fended them off with a barrage of shells.
"We'll run out of planes to launch if we don't do something about her" Zuikaku irritatingly looked at the few arrows she has left
Their shells and even their planes dealt no damage at the War Princess, who just stood there and let a barrier block all type of attacks.
(Is this...how we're going to fall...?) Taihou thought to herself
Shoukaku and Zuikaku launched another squadron after more planes were shot down. The battle continued with the Abyssals slowly gaining advantage over the situation.
"Fall!"
The Southern War Princess laugher maniacally even though the ship girls are sinking her escorts one by one. Her victorious moment is cut short when torpedoes struck her from behind and one of her Fortresses are destroyed again.
"Just who-?!" When Southern War Princess turned around, she was left speechless
"You look a bit different..."
The War Princess resented the traitorous Abyssal in front of her. What's more is that Fubuki shows very little emotion. Her fingers shook at the sight of the traitor.
"You...you have a lot of nerve showing yourself after you betrayed us!"
"I never betrayed the Abyssal fleet...because I was never on your side"
While the Southern War Princess throw insults and let out her fury at her fellow Abyssal, the ship girls finally had 'room to breathe'. Taihou repositioned herself and looked at the others.
"How can you betray us?! You're an Abyssal!"
"I had someone I cared about, even though she's gone...I still keep going"
Southern War Princess doesn't know what Fubuki is talking about, but she doesn't care about that. All the Abyssal thought is the other Abyssal in front of her is a traitor to their kind.
"Central Princess...will make you pay for your betrayal..."
Fubuki disliked hearing the Central Princess being mentioned, let alone by Southern War Princess. While Southern War Princess tossed verbal rage, Taihou wondered why is 'the Abyssal' here.
Southern Anchorage...
Along with Kure's combined fleet, the combined force of two Naval districts gave the Abyssals a fierce battle.
"Sink!" Battleship Princess screamed
Bismarck and Nagato lead the assault, charging in as the pride of their Naval district.
"Feuer!"
"Fiiiiireee!"
Aircraft carriers Saratoga, Graf Zeppelin, and Ark Royal launched a squadron of bombers that aimed at the Harbor summer Princess.
"That hurts!" Most bombs missed her
"Argh!" Battleship Princess took damaged from Nagato and Bismarck
The Abyssals in the anchorage are being sunk one by one by the combined fleet of two Naval districts.
"I don't like this anymore!" Harbor summer Princess is taking too much hits
"This is no good after all..."
Battleship Princess never thought ship girls have powerful battleships that are on par with her. Frustrated, she refused to sink at such a place.
"First and second cannons, open fire!"
Loaded with armor piercing shells, Yamato sunk two Ta class Battleships with one salvo. Jintsuu and Sendai teamed up to sink six Ro class destroyers.
"Poi, poi poiiiii!" Yuudachi begun showing off and sunk two Ho class light cruisers
"Burning Looooveee!" Kongou sank three Heavy cruiser Ne class with one salvo
Yuudachi and Mutsuki sailed passed Kongou to sink more enemy destroyers. The two launched their torpedoes sinking six destroyer I class.
"This is so thrilling, poi!" Yuudachi grinned
"You could say that...!"
Watching each other's back, Yuudachi and Mutsuki fired their main batteries with all their strength while being surrounded by more destroyers.
"I'm not liking this anymore, Dyson!"
"Kkh...this is humiliating" Battleship Princess gritted her teeth
To a degree, Battleship Princess felt s little terrified at Nagato and Bismarck's deadly glare. While there are still forces in the Southern anchorage, Battleship Princess clenched her fists.
"This...this isn't over!" Bloodied, her pet carried her
"I'm don't want to be here anymore!" Harbor summer Princess held her slightly burnt hat
Battleship Princess and Harbor summer Princess are forced to retreat when the ship girls are closing in. Bismarck and Nagato chased after them to prevent their escape, but Abyssal forces blocked their way.
"Tch! They ran away!" Nagato clenched her fists
"We'll get them next time" Bismarck smiled at her
"Yeah. They won't get away again" Nagato lifted her fists
Even though Battleship Princess and Harbor Summer Princess escaped, the combined fleet of two Naval districts took care of the remaining forces easily as the Abyssals lost their leaders.
"Fleet! Operations success!" Nagato proudly exclaimed
"Yeaaaahhh!" The southern attack and secondary assault force roared
"Victory is ours, poi!" Yuudachi hugged Mutsuki
"Night baaaattleeeee!" Sendai raised her arms
"Burning Loooooveeee!" Kongou did the same
With their victory, the Maizuru naval district ship girls gloriously and energetically yelled the success of the operation.
"They sure are energetic..." Graf Zeppelin faintly smiled
"Just what kind of Admiral they have?" Bismarck removed her hat and scratched her head
"I would like to meet him or her someday" Ark Royal joined in the conversation
The Kure naval district ship girls couldn't help but just smile at seeing how the Nagato is the one leading the victory cheer.
"Oooooooh!" Nagato raised her fist
"Oooooooh!" Everyone but Yamato raised their fists
A few minutes later, the aircraft carriers from Kure surveyed the area and confirmed that they eliminated the Abyssal fleet guarding the area and lost sight of the two Princess class Abyssals.
Maizuru Naval district...
At 0425, the combined fleet returned to their Naval district with a lot of ship girls clapping at their success.
"Good job everyone!" Tone gave a thumbs up
"Khorosho!" Hibiki as well
"Naka-chan could have gotten MVP"
Naka pouted and her sister ships patted her shoulder. Nagato lovingly saw how everyone else is celebrating. She everyone else is celebrating, Taihou stood in the middle of the admiral's office to report.
"I see..." The admiral nodded
"What are you going to do next, admiral?"
"What all of us can do now. Let fate take its natural course"
"..." Taihou is a bit confused
"If what her message is what I think it is...then the real battle is just beginning..."
The admiral sighed and rested her forehead on her intertwined fingers. Her hands tensed up a bit, but calmed down not long after. The admiral gazed at Taihou who is a bit nervous on what the admiral had just said.
(I wonder...what was that message all about...)
All Taihou could think of is the look in Fubuki's eyes when she left that strange message. Whatever it is...it must have meant something...
Extra
The mysterious force that binds all Abyssals is currently trying to pull me back again. It's hard to resist that power dragging me down as I used a lot of my strength in the battle earlier and sinking every Abyysal I meet. Not good...this is not good...
"Ggh!"
Inside my consciousness, the scene of a vessel being struck in the middle and it caused an explosion on the said vessel. I was nearby the scene when it happened and the wind that came along with the explosion felt so real. Something else flashed in my mind...
"Sinking...?"
The vessels was split in half as it sinks. Such a tragic fate befell on the instrument of war. Does it hated being sunk like that? or does it regret not being able to fulfill its purpose?
"Huh? Why did I suddenly thought of that?"
I felt pain when I saw that vessel broke in half as it sank to the bottom of the dark and lonely ocean. It was then a familiar sensation surged within me. Hate and regret...
It's so cold and dark down here...there's nothing here but loneliness...
"This voice..."
I feel so empty. I feel so hollow...
It's my voice. For some reason it's filled with so much hate as if not even the dark and cold bottom can keep it down.
What I want is for us to be reunited again. We were separated for so long...
"To reunite again?"
Reunited again. Separated for so long. What does it all means? Ugh! This pain is starting to grow worse as I try to remember. It's like something is preventing me from remembering what that memory meant.
"Ggh...! Not...now..."
My consciousness is fading to dark again. My body is starting to feel numb again. Not now...not...in this place. In the end couldn't stop it. Everything else went black and it felt so cold.