The forty-minute pre-battle phase served two purposes. One, it gave the girls time to get ready and two it allowed the final details of the mock battle to be hammered out. The glaring problem is that the third fleet vastly outnumbers task force lighting. (Apparently, Kirishima came up with the name.) If we divided up the fleet that would solve the numbers problem but there was still the fact that one side would have an advantage in battleships and Commander Shuko wanted the battle to be as even as possible. It should be noted that the submarines were not part of the exercise. After passing around ideas for thirty minutes and not coming up with anything Fuso presented a compromise. Instead of having two fleets we would have three and that brings me to where I am now.

Each fleet was spread out by fifty nautical miles. My force is in the North, Fuso's in the East, and Kirishima's in the South. The fleets are divided to be as even as possible. Fuso's force consists of Kinugasa, Kinu, Mikazuki, Uzuki, Mochizuki, Satsuki, Kunashiri, Hachijo, Shinonome, Asagiri, Uranami, and Yunagi for thirteen Kanmusu in total. My force consists of Kako, Natori, Karukaya, Fuyo, Sanae, Shirakumo, Isonami, Aoi, Nomi, Kusagaki, Ayanami, Shikinami for thirteen. And lastly, Kirishima has the rest of the fleet for a total of fourteen.

The purpose of the battle is to test the combat capability of the forces involved. That's the official reason at least. The unofficial reason, and the main cause of this battle, is pride. Fuso is strict and a far better lady than I will ever be but she has one small weakness and that's pride. She's prideful about her task force and I can understand that pride, after all, I take pride in my task force. Kirishima noticed this and decided to take jabs at that pride and it ended about as well as you expected, Fuso challenged her to a duel. I didn't take kindly to Kirishima insulting task force 55, and by extension, the Third fleet, and also challenged her to a duel.

Looking back with a clear head I think Kirishima was joking but Fuso and I were too riled up to think about that. Even if she was it wouldn't matter as Fuso would have challenged her anyway. I can say one thing about this situation that summons it up quite nicely, 'That escalated quickly.'

"So, what are we waiting for," Kako asked.

"We're waiting on the Commander to start the battle."

"What's taking him so long?"

"He wants to watch the battle in real-time."

"And how is he going to do that?"

"I think he's trying to convince the army to loan him a drone."

"I bet that's going well."

We've been sitting here for twenty minutes and if we have to wait another ten minutes I'm just going to contact Fuso and Kirishima and start the battle.

"You've talked with Kirishima what's she like?"

"She's very excitable and has a tendency to ramble but other than that I know nothing about her."

"Hmm, and the Commander?"

"A strict no non-sense officer. The destroyers need to be on their best behavior and not get up to their usual tricks."

"You know that's going to be torture for some of them."

"Yes, yes I do." With Furutaka still out Kako had quickly become my second. She may be silly at times but she knows how to lead.

Another five minutes passed. Now, we've been waiting for twenty-five minutes and at this point I'm seriously considering that the Commander is testing us. If he wants us to use our initiative and start the battle so be it.

"Fuso, Kirishima do you read me?"

"Fuso here."

...

...

...

"Kirishima do you read me?"

...

...

...

"Fuso can you contact Kirishima she's not answering."

Static is my answer.

"What the hell is going on," I muttered. "We're moving out!"

"Ise?"

"I can't contact Fuso or Kirishima. I think we're being jammed."

"Jammed... Abyssals?"

"Maybe. Fuso, Kirishima do you read, over."

Nothing. "Commander Shuko do you read, over?" Still nothing.

Son of a "General Yoson this is Ise do you read, over?"

Static blared through my radio followed by a barely distinguishable voice. "Ise, this is General Yoson send message."

"I can't contact Okinawa naval base, can you raise them?"

(Static) and (Static) repeat (Static)

The transmission cut out. "General quarters." Two simple words that hold so much power. My main guns spun around ready to engage while my 25 mm guns turned their attention to the skies. We are already in formation with Kako and I in the middle, Natori just ahead of us, and the destroyers formed in a half-circle.

"Fuso, Kirishima do you copy, over."

...

...

...

(Static) Und (Static) eed (Static) NOW! (Static)

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!

Narrowing my eyes at the flashes on the horizon I kicked up to flank speed. My boilers heated up and my cooling system reacted accordingly. "Kako, take Shirakumo, Isonami, Aoi, and Ayanami get up there and provide assistance!"

"Understood!"

"HEY! What about us," Nomi shouted.

"Kirishima is in trouble we can't just sit back," Kusagaki added.

"I know you want to help but you're struggling to keep up with me, you'll only slow them down."

"WHAT!? ARE YOU IMPLYING WE'RE USELESS!?"

"In this situation yes! Speed is the key to victory and if you're with them they won't get there as quickly as they could!"

"We can push our boilers harder than you think! We won't slow them down!"

"That's a risk I won't take. What if they don't hold up? What if in pushing your selves to help her your boilers explode? At best you'll be out of action for months at worse you could kill yourselves!"

They flinched and hung their heads in defeat. I could barely hear soft hiccupping from Nomi. I sailed over and rested my hands on their shoulders. "You are far from useless but there're some situations where you can't help."

Kusagaki slowly raised her head while Nomi wiped her eyes and did the same. I flashed them a reassuring smile, "Besides, Kirishima is a battleship. She can take care of herself."

"Y-yeah. She can."

"We're sorry we augured."

"There's nothing to be sorry about. You want to protect your squamates. There is no shame in that and it shows how strong you both are."

"Ise, come in over."

They nodded to tell me they were okay. "Go ahead Fuso."

"Abyssals drove off minimal damage taken. Kirishima took a bit of a beating but nothing too serious."

"Understood. I want your force to guard the Western tip of Okinawa, out."

"Kirishima, do you copy?"

"Loud and clear!"

"Status report."

"I've taken some hits but nothing too serious. The abyssals focused me so the rest of my force took no damage."

"Enemy force composition?"

"They didn't stick around long enough to get solid information but there was at least one battlecruiser in their formation."

"What about the jamming of transmissions?"

"No idea."

"Understood. Have your force rendezvous with Fuso's and get yourself repaired."

"Understood."

"Kako rendezvous with Fuso as well."

"Roger."

"What about us, ma'am," Natori asked.

"Form a defensive position two nautical miles out from the base. If the abyssals get past Fuso you'll be the last line of defense."

"Understood."

"Ise come in."

I broke off from the remainder of my force and headed back toward the base. "I read you Commander."

"What's the situation?"

"Abyssals jammed our radio transmissions and attacked with a force of unknown size. Kirishima is on her way back for repairs, nothing too serious. Fuso is guarding the Southern tip of the island along with Kirishima's force and some of mine. I've ordered the rest of my force to form a defensive perimeter two nautical miles out from the base. I'm heading back to base now."

"Alright. I've informed Fleet Admiral Jakuchu of what happened. Expect a full debrief when you return, out."

I lowered my hand from my ear and my mind drifted. The abyssals have been using jamming technology since they first arrived but it was counteracted fairly quickly. It gave them a huge advantage in the opening weeks but after that it was practically useless. They still use it but at worst it makes transmissions from regular radios have static and it has never affected Kanmusu. For them to have a jamming system that makes communication impossible for our forces and for Kanmusu is troubling, to say the least. If they start using it regularly our battles will be a lot more difficult.

I reached the dock and jumped out of the sea with my rigging vanishing when I landed on the concrete. Personal rushed to and from the docks as they loaded supplies into trucks while soldiers climbed into others and drove off. Two helicopters roared overhead heading to the Southern tip of the island. I made note of all these happenings and continued on. Inside the base, it's a hive of activity as personal rushed past me to wherever they were needed. The fairly small hallways of the base became cramped at certain times which made it interesting to navigate, at least for the humans.

I pushed passed a crowd of people as we all tried to get through at the same time muttering apologies as I went. I drew a few glares from those I pushed aside but I ignored them. After a few minutes of navigating my way past people, I arrived at Shuko's office.

'Knock, knock'

"Come in!"

I entered and found Kirishima talking with him. "I told you to get repaired first."

"I overruled it. I need to debrief her as quickly as possible."

Kirishima smiled, "You don't have to worry about me Ise. I'm a battleship I can take a few hits," she boasted.

I smirked, "Technically, you're a battlecruiser."

"Shut up."

Commander Shuko cleared his throat. "Ladies can we continue with the debriefing."

"Sorry sir. As I was saying they were in a battle line formation. Their destroyers were screening their formation in groups of five the cruisers were further back and what I believe to be a single battlecruiser or battleship in the very back."

"Standard formation then. Any idea on which one jammed our communications?"

"No, sir."

"Hmm. I'll send the submarines to scout the islands around Taiwan see what they can find. In the meantime, I suggest the fleet be put through their paces."

"Understood, sir."

"Kirishima you're dismissed I still need to debrief Ise."


Twelve hours after the probing attack on Okinawa.

Admiral Goto POV

Anytime Jakuchu calls for an emergency meeting I know something has gone wrong. He has only done this twice. The first was when the abyssals first showed up and the second was when the abyssals attacked Nemuro.

"Alright, gentlemen I'll cut to the chase. The abyssals launched another attack on Okinawa."

Muttering broke out among the various Admirals. I'm not surprised about this and Jakuchu shouldn't be either as he ordered the Third fleet to Okinawa to prevent the abyssals from invading again.

"That amongst itself is not surprising. What is worrying is the jamming the abyssals used during the attack. According to Commander Shuko, General Yoson, Ise, and Kirishima the abyssals managed to jam all communications to and from the island. Ise and Kirishima also reported they jammed their own communications to other Kanmusu."

That brought more of a reaction from the various Admirals. I stroked my chin in thought. If the abyssals are already testing this technology in their fleets they could already have stations in their occupied territories and that would make any invasion next to impossible. If that is true the stations will have to be destroyed before any attack can be launched. The problem is if the stations are far enough inland the Kanmusu will be unable to bombard them and any attempts to hit the stations with missiles would likely end in failure. The air force could try and destroy them but that to would likely end in failure and the deaths of many brave pilots.

"If these new abyssals are coming from Taiwan we must launch an attack immediately!"

"I don't disagree but that could end in disaster with the new abyssal jamming."

"We have defeated the abyssal's jamming before we can do it again."

"That is true but in the time it took serval offensives and counter-attacks ended in disaster leaving tens of thousands of soldiers dead. Communication is key to any military operation and if the abyssals take that away the operation will be doomed from the start."

"Gentlemen you bring up valid points. If anyone has a plan to deal with this problem, speak now."

If we can't bombard them from the sea and the regular air force can't destroy them that severely limits our options. Well if the regular air force can't destroy the target may be an aircraft carrier could, like Kaga. Hmm. "Sir, I have a plan to deal with this problem. If the stations are out of range of bombardment we can use Kaga's planes to deal with them."

"Can you spare Kaga Admiral Goto? I know Yokosuka has dealt with increased abyssal activity for the past few days."

He's not wrong, but I have faith in the girls. "Yes sir. I can send Kaga to Okinawa for an attack on Taiwan."

"Good. Admiral Mikawa what forces can you spare from Kure?"

"I'll see what I can send but with the aforementioned increased abyssal hostility it won't be much."

"Of course. Gentlemen that concludes this meeting but I have one more thing to say. I know the summoning of Kanmusu is random at the best of times but we need more carriers. If you have to use more resources for a greater possibility then do it. I'll make sure the Diet agrees with this."