I entered the dry-docks just as Hakone was getting out. Chitose was checking over her new planes as the construction fairies wheeled off her old Dive bombers. I made a note to have them as well as the remaining Kai loaded onto our ship, no need to mothball perfectly good replacement aircraft after all. "Hey, guys! we got a job! apparently it's following a convoy around."

Chitose froze, before tentatively raising her hand. "Um, Georgia, I know this is a bit sudden to bring up but, don't you remember? I have to get back home. Now that my keel is fixed and I can cruise on my own again I might not be able to come with you." I considered this.

"Well, which way even IS 'home' for you?" Chitose looked at me in surprise, I guess not expecting me to be so reasonable about it. "My home port is in Tokyo, but I'd be glad just to get to friendly territory to be honest. Where is the convoy headed?"

"Vietnam, apparently we are supposed to find and destroy a group of Abyssals that have been mucking things up for everyone on the route there," I said to her. Chitose began to look worried as she paced back and forth across the room.

"That's where the Abyssal Battleship Hime has been attacking! I remember my Admiral talking about it, what could possibly be causing trouble for her? I heard she has more Carriers then most fleets have escorts!" I watched her pace with a slight frown, where was it Mae had said? Ah.

"Apparently a group of Abyysals in the Spratly Islands have been hitting her shipping in the area, mostly submarines and a few surface ships. What Mae wants us to do is basically follow along behind the convoy, wait for it to get attacked, then waste most of them and follow the rest back to their base. Then blow it up, killing the Hime there if there is one. You sure you don't wanna come? It's mostly killing Abyssals." I tempted, but Chitose wasn't having any of it.

"Look, I may have traveled with you for the past week, but that doesn't mean I can actively help abyssal forces! What would my admiral think of me if she knew I'd helped clear the way for Abyssal logistics to Vietnam?! She was starting to raise her voice, oooh boy, this might turn into an argument.

"Look, no need to start shouting. I'm right here." I said in an even voice. "But in regards to that, it's not really all that worse then what you've already done, isn't it?" She looked at me, surprise on her features. "What do you think paid for our shiny new paint-jobs Chitose? It was supplies meant for Guangzhou! your allies and we, and I do mean WE as in group effort, exchanged them for repairs from Mae's Abyssals." Chitose's shocked face turned indignant.

"That was different! It was a matter of survival! this time we'll be directly aiding the enem-!" I interrupted her.

"Enemy, Chitose? Whose enemy? Ours, or yours?" I walked up next to her, putting my hands on her shoulders (had to use my tippy toes). "Look me in the eyes Chitose, do these look like the eyes of a Kanmusu?" The blue glow seemed to brighten at that instance, reflected off her eyes as she looked down at me. "I am an Abyssal, same as Hakone, same as Mae, same as that Wo-class you were getting chummy with earlier!" Chitose looked down, unable to meet my gaze. I let go of her shoulders and stepped back. Hakone, the poor thing, was sitting at the pool's edge trying to look small in her oversized Chinese sailor outfit, and suddenly I felt like Chitose and I were arguing like a couple in a troubled marriage next to their child.

"I-I don't see you as enemies, b-but I can't help you help the Battleship-Hime! She's already slaughtered thousands, TENS of thousands! that's the difference Georgia! These were a few supplies, we make runs like that every few months, but this? Georgia, if that convoy makes it through because of what WE did a lot of people could die, because of us! Don't you care?" OK that was uncalled for.

"We aren't even helping the convoy Chitose! We are LETTING them be attacked!" She looked up in surprise at my outburst, I was suddenly aware all activity had stopped around us, even a few construction fairies on the catwalks had stopped, a few apparently breaking out a pack of smokes as they watched our drama unfold. I pulled Chitose by the elbow off to an empty corner of the room and brought my voice down to a whisper as I said: "Look, the first convoy is largely being used as bait to draw these arseholes out. They've been hitting everyone, not just Mae's ships. Any human fishing vessel, any merchantman from any country, hell, anything bigger then a rowboat gets a torp up the arse from these girls." Chitose was beginning to calm down, so was I, that was good. "If it wasn't us going after them it would be someone else, and that convoy would still only be one of several. How about this? you come along with me, you help put down these pirates, that way no one, human or abyssal, has to deal with them anymore." I raised my finger as Chitose made to speak, she stopped short and I continued. "Now, if the Battleship Hime hasn't taken Vietnam by now, that means someone is defending it, right?" Chitose nodded. "That means that once the pirates are gone and dealt with, we can part ways, you can go back-up the Vietnamese, and we can put this whole mess behind us."

"What about you?" Chitose said sadly.

"I can take care of myself, I think," I said. "I'll probably putter around, doing the odd job here and there for supplies, why?"

"I think my sister would like you, once she got over trying to kill you." She gave a smile ."Maybe once I get back to my Admiral I can try to get her to take you in?" I looked at her oddly.

"I'm not a stray cat."

"You may as well be."

"Sure thing, stump." Chitose straightened, and I had to look up at her grinning face. She was a lot taller with legs.

"Says the midget." Ooh, I've taught this one too well.

"Touche."

We started walking back to a worried Hakone, standing next to the smoking fairies. "You know these caravans have been going on for the past two years, right? Vietnam can survive one more, especially if they get your help to go along with it." I murmured. Chitose didn't reply, though judging from her grin, she heard.

"Are mommy and daddy finished fighting?" Hakone said worriedly. The construction fairies above her head startedroaring out laughing.

"WHAT/Whaat?!" Me and Chitose exclaimed almost simultaneously.

"HAAA! I told you she'd say it! I friggen told you!" One of the fairies said, slapping her overall covered knee. Another started choking, apparently having swallowed her cigarette butt. "I know these new constructs are gullible, but wow they really parrot back anything you tell em to say!"

"...Damn fairies"

"...Agreed"