Chitose POV

I nodded resolutely as Georgia turned to Hakone. "You patrol around the ship and guard Chitose alright? We don't need a cheeky destroyer slipping around and breaking our new house." Ah, I'd have an escort this time! And what a world where I had a Ri-class as an escort. There was nothing wrong with the girl, I thought Hakone was adorably sweet, but it was still odd to have to potentially rely on her for my protection.

"Alright let's go!" And Georgia jumped onto her rigging, diving almost immediately. I turned to Hakone as she stepped off-board to start her patrol pattern. "Hakone, you may want to launch your flying fish, they'll be able to cover more ground then just you're eyes alone." She nodded, before the dagger-like aircraft lifted off from her body.

As this was happening I started to launch the two air-wings of Attack Seaplane Kai in my holds. With my four launch platforms replaced, I was able to launch entire squadrons at a time, and I was able to quickly pick up the other ones left on the deck and crew them as well! Honestly, I was surprised the Admiral hadn't thought of this, having fairy planes (Abyssal in this case) lined up on an actual hull craft ready and waiting extended my flight capacity by almost quintuple! And it was only really limited by how many I was able to fit onto the deck, and how fast my crew could man and launch them! I only had internal room for two flights, 8 individual planes, but with this method I could launch thirty-two with my old dive bombers and recon planes!

On our shared channel I could hear the orders as the decoy caravan we'd been following took defensive positions, guarding the empty transport ships as they were ordered into an anti-sub formation. I contacted the torpedo cruiser that was acting flagship for their fleet, and stated that I would be providing air support, I could practically feel their relief at that. My pilots were able to barely spot Georgia speeding under the water at a comparatively quick pace, her body a faint white blot only really visible because we knew where she was already.

My pilots reached the battlefield, and I noticed that other than a few cruiser-launched reconnaissance planes that were almost immediately shot down there really wasn't any (Enemy) Abyssal air presence. I got constant reports from my planes as I raised Georgia on that low-frequency channel she used. "There aren't many aircraft being fielded by the enemy, looks like they are relying on surprise and speedy destroyers and light-cruisers to chase their enemies down. I'm seeing several He-class light cruisers, five packs-worth of imps, around twenty I class's and..." I knew that profile, those green eyes and turret set up were unmistakable! "Oh no. Georgia! They have a Ta-class battleship! Be careful not to get caught on the surface by it, its 16inchers will tear you apart!" Georgia didn't reply, though that isn't surprising with how close she was to the fighting, and I got to work.

The two fleets had moved into torpedo range, and a massive opening spread was launched by both sides' destroyers and cruisers. It was still considered pretty long range though, and only caused superficial damage on both sides, most torpedoes successfully avoided altogether. One of the enemy He-class light cruisers was slow to get back under the fleets AA coverage, and I took full advantage, no less than two full wings of my Kai and my Zuiun squadron making a run on it.

One of my Zuiun took a hit on its left-wing, but the sheer amount of fast-moving planes was enough to overwhelm the lone ships AA guns, and the 550kg bombs dropped by the Kai detonated on-target, swiftly followed by the Zuiun's 250kg's. Chitose was fairly certain she could see the explosion with her own eyes, far as she was from the battle.

The fleets had moved into optimum range and it very quickly became apparent that the defenders were outmatched in ballistics. The Ta-class danced around fire thrown at her from the escort Ro-class destroyers, firing off a salvo that almost immediately bracketed a pair of To-class light cruisers as I maneuvered my planes around the veritable wall of anti-air fire from the mass of Imps and I class. I took targets of opportunity, and netted another two destroyer kills, along with several overeager Imps, before I 'saw' one of the Ro-class take an oxygen torpedo to its port-side. "Chi-57, you have an Abyssal submarine on your left flank, over!" ...Wait, they are ALL Abyssals! Ahh, this is so confusing!

I kept an eye out, waiting for another strike from that area, but the submarine had either been spooked away or Georgia had found it. I kept up the harassment of the enemy fleet, picking at pockets that had separated to have artillery duels with the flanks, though the Ta-class was smart, she kept herself in the heart of the AA coverage. Soon though I noticed a significant fleet action: A large number of I-class had suddenly started to strafe a specific area with depth charges. Oh no...

"Georgia-Hime! The enemy fleet know you're in the water somewhere, I'm seeing almost a third of their destroyers launching charges on your position!" Chi-57 shouted out, there was still no response, not that I'd expected one, but it was still boiler-stopping, wondering if Georgia was alright, if she'd been under all those charges... My inattention cost the Chi her life, the Ta-class, having briefly ducked out of AA cover while I hadn't been paying attention, turned-in to a torpedo spray that landed her sights right on top of the torpedo cruiser. Her 16inch guns barked three times, two shots going wide and bracketing the cruiser, while the third took her in the middle, bisecting the woman from her rigging as she tumbled into the surf. I kept my planes in loose harrying formations as I watched the Wa-class transports steam forward at the death of their flagship.

What were they doing?! The whole point of the fleet's formation was to protect the transports and now they were throwing themselves away?! The enemy seemed just as confused as I was, hesitating to fire for the brief moment it took for them to reach their lines, and with roars that sounded a little desper- They exploded.

They had been fire-ships the whole time, and I hadn't even known. I wasn't a stranger to the tactic, me and my sister's first deaths were the result of a strategic sacrifice to bait the American fleet. But this was the first time I'd seen such as a Kanmusu, It brought back memories I'd have rather left buried. Regardless of my personal feelings, the transport's sacrifice had opened up cracks in the AA coverage of the enemy fleet, cracks I took full advantage of, at least a dozen ships sank in the next following minutes, either finished off from the Wa's explosions or taken out by my pilots.

The Ta-class dueled with the two To-class light cruisers, and it became readily apparent that the destruction of the Chi hadn't been a fluke. The Ta left them blasted wrecks, sailing backward in a covering rearguard position as the enemy fleet began to retreat. That was good, we were supposed to follow them, right? I had my planes peel off from the enemy fleet, focusing my efforts and taking out the Ta's support. If I could take out its AA cover I might be able to- Georgia was still alive!

The little submarine-girl had jumped clear out of the water from behind the Ta, torpedo in-hand and, and... landed on her back?! I almost couldn't believe my pilot's eyes, as Georgia seemed to scrabble around trying to find purchase on something located on the Ta's neck. Whatever it was, it seemed to drive the Ta insane, by the flailing and bucking she did trying to get the submarine off of her. I had one of my planes risk a low altitude pass and...

"I think I'm going to be sick." Hakone glanced at my sudden words, looking at my paling face before shrugging it off and continuing her patrol.

Georgia had actually cracked open the Ta's citadel armor with her bare hands, like she was peeling a mandarin orange. Before sticking one of her torpedoes up to the propeller into the hole and jumping off! I didn't see any more than that, as my plane had whizzed by too fast, but my god... The Ta screamed as it fired after the submarine, but I could tell it was ineffective, the torpedo decided to finally go off a few seconds later, and combined with the torpedo's un-used fuel and the ammo magazine's doubtlessly tucked into the Ta's citadel...

I needed a drink.

A surface-look at the battle! you can't even tell Georgia is going all BFG division on those Ka's down there, there's quite a difference in perspective between a submarine and (basically) a Carrier. For those of you wondering, in-lore Chitose is already a social drinker with a few Carriers, so after all this time it's not surprising she'd feel the itch.

how sake actually affects people-that-are-also ships I blame entirely on SMSB.