It has been eight hours since Cruiser Squadron 8 left port and started their patrol. The sun is out, the weather is clear and the sea is calm, a perfect day to be out on the ocean. "This is fantastic."

"It is. Maybe I should work on my tan."

"Can you even get a tan?"

"I'm about to find out."

The destroyers had formed a semi-circle in front of Salt Lake and Nashville. They had launched their floatplanes to cover more ocean and they are now returning to refuel before being sent out again. As their floatplanes launched one of the destroyers got a ping on their sonar. "I have a submerged contact. Bearing 2-0-7, medium range."

The task force increased speed. "Is it coming towards us?"

"No. Damn, I just lost it. It looked to be heading North-West."

"Understood. Rear Admiral Smith, do you read me?"

"I read you Salt Lake City."

She shook her head at the use of her full name. "We just detected a submerged contact. Do we have any submarines operating in our patrol zone? Over."

"Negative Salt Lake City. Any contacts you have are hostile. Over."

"Understood. Out. Dewey! Dale! Hunt that Abyssal bastard down!"

"With pleasure!"

"Understood."

The sisters broke away and headed towards its last known location. Behind them, their task force started to zig-zag to increase the difficulty of a torpedo launch. Dewey and Dale searched for an hour but didn't detect anything.

"Come on Dewey. We need to rendezvous with the task force."

"Fine. Slippery bastard; I'll get you next time!"

"Sister, you know it can't hear you."

"I know. I'm just annoyed it got away."

"So you yelled?"

"Yes. Yelling is very effective at relieving stress and anger."

Dale shook her head, "Of course you would know that."

"Hey! What's the supposed to mean?"

"Nothing!"

Dewey smiled and nodded. "That's what I thought."

They sailed in comfortable silence for ten minutes until Dale's sonar picked up a contract directly ahead at medium range. "Sister, I have a submerged contact directly off my bow."

"It tried to slip past us!" Dewey laughed, "Big mistake. You're not getting away again!"

"Agreed." They increased speed and closed in on the target. Soon, Dewey launched her depth charges first with her sister launching a few seconds afterward. They sank to their predetermined depths and exploded!

Water explodes upwards from the detonations but there is no sign indicating the sub has been sunk. As they turned around, their sonars detected the sub again. They attacked again launching more depth charges into the ocean! The charges detonated and a large oil slick started to form on the surface.

"Hell yeah! Scratch one submarine!"

"Salt Lake, enemy submarine sunk."

"Nice! I'll inform Admiral Smith, return to the task force. Out."

"Let's go sis."

"Come on sis! Can't you try to be happy!?"

"I am. I just don't express it as you do."

"Could you at least smile? Just a small one, that's all I'm asking for."

Dale looked at her sister and her lips curved upward ever so slightly. "Happy?"

Dewey shook her head but smiled. "Yeah."

Dale's face returned to a neutral expression. "Good. Now come on, we have to catch up to the task force."

They sailed in a confrontable silence for half an hour when Dale felt something. She tried to ignore it but it persisted. Seven minutes later and the feeling had gotten stronger to the point that she started scanning the ocean. Her spotters didn't see anything and her sonar operator couldn't hear anything due to her speed. She singled to her sister to slow down.

"Sister?"

"I have a... feeling."

"A feeling? Like a sixth sense?"

"That... sounds right."

They slowed to ten knots and started to separate.

"Salt Lake, do you copy? Over."

"I read you. Over."

"I believe there is another submarine in our area. We're hunting it now, Over."

"Understood. Good hunting. Out."

While Dewey and Dale are hunting for a possible second sub, Salt Lake's floatplanes are searching for surface ships and surfaced submarines. She ordered the task force to spread out and the destroyers to form a wider circle around herself and Nashville.

"Salt Lake City, update."

"Dewey and Dale are searching for more Abyssal submarines. No sign of Abyssal surface ships or submarines near us. Over."

"Understood. I've had the rest of the Eighth fleet prepare for a sortie."

"Sir we can handle this. There is no reason to sortie the whole fleet."

"I'm not taking any chances Salt Lake City. Out."

"Dale, submerged contact off my port side. Bearing 3-3-7 Moving away."

Dale changed course and slightly increased speed. Three minutes later her sonar operator had the target.

"Target acquired Dewey."

"Understood. Starting my attack."

Dewey increased her speed and closed rapidly with the contact. The Abyssal responded by increasing speed, diving deeper, and changing course heading directly toward Dewey. When Dewey passed over the submarine and launched her depth charges Dale lost the contact. Six explosions followed sending columns of water skyward!

Twelve seconds later, Dale's sonar operator reported that the submarine had blown its ballast tanks. Dale's expression turned confused, a submarine doesn't stand a chance against two destroyers in a gunfight. Four seconds after this report, her sonar operator reported the submarine breaking up.

"Nice work Dewey. That's two."

"Didn't stand a chance," she said with a smile. "Jealous?"

Dale shook her head, "Hardly. Let's get back to the squadron."

"Salt Lake, two submarines confirmed sunk. We're heading back now. Over."

"Understood. Good work you two. We'll slow up so you can catch up quicker. Out."

Dewey formed up with Dale in a line ahead formation. They increased speed to twenty-five knots.

"Do you think that was all of them?"

"Maybe. The feeling I had was gone."

"That's good. Let me know if it returns."

"I will."

The peaceful silence they enjoyed was broken by a yell. "Enemy ships spotted on the horizon!" This was followed by multiple flashes!

"Evade!"

Dewey turned to port but the shells weren't aimed at her. They landed around Dale who barely managed to avoid them! "Salt Lake, we're being engaged by four Abyssal destroyers."

"Roger that! We're moving to assist!"

"Sister! Fighting retreat back to the task force!"

"Come on sis! We can take'em on!"

"For now! If more of them show up we won't have a chance!"

More shells came in and they fired back! "Fine!"

They retreated back to their task force dodging shells and firing back! Dewey turned to port and four shells landed inches from her spraying her with water! Her return salvo scored a single hit! A salvo from the second destroyer knocked out her depth charges! Thankfully, they didn't explode. Ahead of her, Dale is constantly changing direction to avoid the fire from the other two Abyssals.

Salt Lake and her squadron are making best speed toward Dale and Dewey. She ordered her closest scout plane to redirect to their position. It reported in giving Salt Lake valuable information about their positions and their status. Neither side looked to have sustained damage. Using the information supplied by her spotter plane, her gunnery officers started working up targeting solutions with assistance from her spotters. Her guns trained on the Abyssals and fired.

Five HE shells screamed toward the Abyssals. Behind her, Nashville's forward guns fired sending six HE shells toward the Abyssals. The shells splashed down but no hits were scored. Their guns adjusted and fired again. This time, Salt Lake's full broadside was brought to bear while Nashville brought all of her forward turrets to bear. Two shells hit the lead Abyssal destroyer causing a fire to break out.

The Abyssal destroyers stopped their attack and turned around. They activated their smoke generators blinding Salt Lake, Nashville, Dale, and Dewey. Salt Lake's scout plane still had eyes on the destroyers and continued to shadow them.

"Dale, Dewey, status?"

"No damage sustained," Dale reported.

"My depth charge rails and throwers are destroyed. Not like they were going to useful in this battle anyway," Dewey reported.

"Salt Lake, we have a situation."

"What is it?"

"One of my spotter planes just reported in. A large Abyssal fleet is inbound with three battleships and a battlecruiser along with multiple cruisers and eighteen destroyers."

"Damn. Range?"

"Seventy nautical miles and closing."

"On us or the mainland?"

"Us."

"Well then, we'll lead them straight to the fleet. Rear Admiral Smith, an Abyssal fleet is seventy nautical miles from our position and closing. We're going to need reinforcements."

"Understood Salt Lake. The Eighth Fleet is making best speed and I'll see if any more reinforcements are in the area to assist. Out."

"Nashville, let me know if the Abyssals make any sudden course changes."

"Got it."

At thirty-two knots, assuming Battle Squadron 38 was making best speed as well, it would take two and a half hours for them to rendezvous.

Nashville's scout plane had been shadowing the Abyssals for the past hour. They had continued to chase the squadron but were slowly falling behind. There had been no indication that the Abyssals had spotted the plane but with cloud cover thinning that could change. The pilot kept scanning the sky while the gunner kept watch on the Abyssals.

He took his eyes off the Abyssals and scanned his sectors. After a few minutes, he turned his attention back to the Abyssal fleet.

A small dot caught the gunner's attention. He grabbed his binoculars and tried to get a clear visual. After a couple of tries, he settled his binoculars on the dot. He still couldn't see much detail but, it didn't look like a Wildcat. He looked back at the fleet noticing they hadn't reacted in any way. The plane was directly above them so they have to know its there.

He looked back at the plane which had been joined by three more. "Possible Abyssal fighters flying over the fleet."

"How many?"

"Four. They're in a V formation. The Abyssal haven't reacted to them yet."

"If the fleet hasn't reacted to them then it's safe to assume they're Abyssal fighters."

The gunner lowered his binoculars, "Do we have a code name for them?"

"We do. It's Abby."

"Abby? Well, better than calling them 'Abyssal fighters.'"

"Get back on track. Are they heading for us?"

"...No. Looks like they're heading for the squadron."

"Nashville, do you copy? Over."

"Nashville, do you copy? Over."

She raised her hand to her ear. "I copy. Over."

"A squadron of Abbies is heading your direction. We couldn't see any more squadrons before we broke away. Over."

"Understood. Keep tracking the fleet. Out. Salt Lake, a squadron of Abbies is heading our way."

"That's not good. They have a carrier in the area."

"Let's hope Wasp's Wildcats reach us first."

"Nashville, a strike wave is heading your direction. Unable to get an accurate count but it's well over two dozen warbirds. Over."

"Understood. Out. Her Wildcats better be here soon. A strike wave is inbound and there's no way we could shoot them all down."

Salt Lake smiled and faced her, "You wanna bet?"

Seven minutes later, Dale's air search radar picked up contacts. "Enemy contacts detected bearing 3-4-9, range, thirty nautical miles."

"Eyes to the sky! It's about to get crowded."

"I hope Wasp's Wildcats get here soon."

"...Enemy contacts have entered firing range."

The rearmost destroyers' guns rotated, elevated, and fired! Flack shells exploded creating black clouds of smoke and throwing deadly shrapnel into the sky!

"Are they dive or torpedo bombers!?"

"Negative. They're fighters. All ships hold your fire. The fighters are not a threat."

The destroyers stopped firing, although, their guns remained trained on the Abbies. They banked right and flew around the squadron.

"More enemy air contacts! Bearing 3-4-0! Range, twenty-two nautical miles!"

"Most likely dive bombers."

"...They're entering effective range now."

"Open fire! Blow them out of the sky!"

The whole fleet opened up creating dozens of flack clouds in a few seconds! The constant barrage started to yield results. Streaks of fire appeared in the sky as bombers were hit and screamed toward the ocean's surface. The dive bombers were split into two attack groups and their targets were Salt Lake and Nashville. Their 5 in guns created a thin cloud of smoke around them.

The fleet's mid-range AA, which was a mix of 1.1 in cannon and 40 mm Bofors, opened up! A hail of tracers filled the air as the bombers closed in. The bombers started their dive and the 20 mm cannons opened up! Salt Lake watched as one bomber had its wing blown off, a second had its tail cut off, a third detonated, and a fourth burst into flames. She turned hard to starboard and the whistling of bombs filled the air!

Two bombs landed a few feet off her starboard side. Another bomb missed her by mere inches showing her in water and causing minor flooding. A bomb smashed through her deck armor and detonated causing heavy damage and starting internal fires. A second bomb completely destroyed one of her 5 in guns and started a raging fire. A third bomb took out her radars and exploded on top of her bridge killing eight and starting a fire. A fourth and final bomb destroyed one of her catapults, penetrated her deck armor, and caused heavy internal damage.

Nashville was hit just in front of her rear tower. The bomb exploded in one of her boiler rooms which reduced her speed. A second bomb landed directly on her second tower starting a fire and destroying most of it.

"Salt Lake!"

"Nashville!"

Salt Lake shook her head and rubbed her ears to try and get them to stop rigging. She took her hand away and it had blood on it.

"I'm... fine." She groaned and held her port side in pain. "Okay... maybe not so fine."

Nashville hissed, "I'm in better shape than Salt Lake but my top speed has been cut by six knots."

"You goddam Abyssal bastards!"

Dewey fired every gun she had at the retreating Abyssals. Her fellow destroyers joined in with Nashville and Salt Lake firing as well. Compared to the rest of the fleet, Salt Lake's AA fire was noticeably less as her gunners were assisting in fighting the fires on deck. The fierce barrage of AA fire claimed another four Abyssal bombers, a small bit of revenge.

"Dammit! Where are Wasp's Wildcats!?"

"More radar contacts bearing 3-0-0."

They stopped firing at the retreating dive bombers and trained their guns on the indicated bearing. Salt Lake reduced her speed to ten knots to help her crew fight the fires raging on deck.

"Torpedo bombers inbound!"

"Light them up!"

Their dual-purpose guns opened up creating an aerial minefield! Dewey's guns lashed out in anger bringing down two bombers within a few seconds of each other. She growled, "Not good enough."

Her guns fired as fast as they could bringing down a third torpedo bomber. Her 40 mm Bofors guns opened fire and her 20 mm cannons took a few speculative shots. Behind her, Salt Lake increased speed and her AA fire intensified as the bombers drew closer. Nashville's guns hammered away putting up dozens of rounds in seconds.

Dewey clenched her fists and swept her left arm at the Abyssals. "You won't get through!"

"Bring them down!"

Four bombers were cut down splashing into the ocean a couple of hundred feet from the fleet. Tracer fire ripped into the bombers from above sending four more bombers smashing into the ocean's surface! Four Wildcats roared over the fleet and pulled up! Four more Wildcats followed them shooting down another four bombers! The fleet cheered as the last bombers smashed into the ocean.

"That's what I'm talking about!"

"It's about time you flyboys showed up!"

"Salt Lake, this is North Carolina. What's your status?"

"Both Nashville and myself have taken damage. Nashville is still combat-capable, although, her top speed has been reduced. My combat capability is questionable." She tried to keep her voice steady but the pain made it difficult.

"Understood. Return to the squadron, Wasp will provide air cover."

"Roger that."