Chapter 7: Naval Battles
The old rocker with my bunkmates who were busy lounging around as we waited idly for command's next orders. Me, as I sat in my metal folding chair off to the side just staring up at the ceiling as my fellow seamen who were in the middle of the room playing a game of cards while talking about their subject of interest. The rocking of the ship helped my focus of being lost in my own uncomfortable meditation trying to ignore my bunk mates who kept at their conversation. Just me and my out of body experience with the rocking ship as my pacifier. Out of nowhere, my chair was pulled off balance causing me to break out of meditation to have my arms extend backwards to prevent my skull from being kicked in.
"Oh, so you are still conscious," one of the seamen said as the rest of his group chuckled.
I gave the group a scornful look at them as I started to rise up from my fall. They all had an irritating smug on their faces which I wished I could just wipe from them. Fixing my chair upright, I stood from my position glaring at the one to be expected to have almost caused me to plummet.
"Hey, don't look at me like that. All of us wanted to know if you were really sane. All you have done was give us small talk, glares, and ceiling staring ever you have been deployed to this ship."
"I have my reasons. Leave me alone."
"Kid, you need to understand that we are supposed to be able to trust one another as soldiers on the ocean. You right now, you aren't really what we would call eh… friendly and reliable what you would call," an older man with a relatively subtle Russian accent leaned forward as if he were to get a better look at me.
"I'm just here to play my part in this war against these terrorists who decided to disturb the peace."
"And you won't be able to do that if you don't have someone you can lean on, мой друг."
"And I don't have to listen to what you have to say old man."
"Whoooa, let's cool it before things get even more heated up in here," one of the other seamen stood up, he is the one who slept next to my bunk that would pull out old playboy magazines from under his bunk whenever it's lights out. Strange how the navy literally lets you pack anything that isn't considered contraband, no matter how wack is is. Either way this guy is weirdo that probably just annoyed his friends in high school. "How about we just start over and just introduce each other once again? My name is Monroe, the man that you just talked to is Nikolai."
"Yes and my name is Yardun. Pleased to be acquainted with you once again young chap," said the man who's the second closest to me who gave out an extended arm expecting me to shake it. "You're just going to keep me hanging?"
All of their gazes were locked on to me, forcing the room to become silent as I reluctantly decided to accept his friendly gesture.
"Hey, he finally did something friendly."
"Cut it Yardun. You're just making things worse for him to be friendly to us," another guy whose face is bare with a deadpan expression.
"This guy right here. His name is Nate," said Monroe.
"I can do my own introductions, you sloth."
"Whatever you say, Japan man."
"Shut it before I tell the captain that you are neglecting your foreman reading."
"Okay, okay. I'll start reading them while you all finish your introductions." Monroe started to head towards his bunk to retrieve a notebook.
"Anyways, I am one of the main foremen here on this ship. If you ever feel ill, you can come to me for medical aid."
"Last but not least, I am Stiles," said the guy that's the closest to where I am standing.
"I'm guessing that you are the one who tipped me over?"
"Ding ding ding, you are correct. Here is your prize." He lobbed me a small box which I can only guess is a pack of cigarettes.
I tossed the box back at him, "Thanks, but I rather not smoke. Rather not get a bad addiction while we are out operating."
"Oh, look at goody two shoes over here. But if you insist, uhh..." he leaned closer to me to spot my name on my name tag.
"Can you please not say my name. I rather not get unwanted feelings and memories to be recalled."
"Well, I guess we can. But why don't you want to be called by your name?"
"Yardun, just stop right there. Everyone has their personal stories and secrets that we wish for the world to not know."
"Yeah, whatever wise man Nathaniel. So, here is a different question for you. Why did you really come and join us? Hmm? The thrill of the battle? For fun?"
"I came here to become a naval commander. If not, an admiral given I serve the minimum years."
"Ah, commander of this ship? I can see than in maybe five or six years. Maybe more."
"No, I'll accomplish my goal in a year or two."
They all started to laugh hysterically at the sound of my words. They laughed for quite a while which only made my blood boil before wanting to shut them all up.
Yardun gasped for air, responding to my dream, "Oh, l like you already chap. Dreaming bigger than what you can imagine. But, we will see how things will go if you will become a commander at your age."
"So if you aren't what should we call this kid?" Questioned Nikolai as he wiped away a tear from his eye.
"How about Shikikan?" Answered Nate.
"Where in the hell did you get that name from?"
"It means commander. I have faith in this kid in achieving this dream. It's a gut feeling, but nonetheless I have confidence that he will become one. But hey, if you all have a better nickname for this kid then I'm all ears."
Silence once again filled the room. All of them nodded in agreement on giving me a nickname. I just simply rolled my eyes in my newly given nickname.
"I think you're overestimating him Nate. If he can't even have a normal conversation with us. how do you think he would be able to command a whole fleet," evaluated Yardun.
"Hmmm… maybe you are right. But, I am still putting my faith in this kid. I believe that he has potential."
"You and your hunches are simply a mystery, мой друг. Hey Shikikan, you want to join us for a game. We are playing poker, no bets."
"Nikolai, you are asking a clueless teenager to play poker," said Nate. "Rethink your words, Russian."
"Why does everyone keep bringing up that I am Russian?"
"Cause Russians are funny people," Monroe joked.
Everyone gave him a deadpan look as he lied on his slab reading his foreman book. Monroe really should be the one to rethink his ways of wording to stay clear of misunderstandings.
"And what is that supposed to mean Monroe," Nikolai seemed like he is about ready to beat Monroe into a red pulp.
"Uh… Shikikan, you get what I mean right?"
"Don't rope me into your problems. You are on your own on this one."
"Uh, what I meant by that is ummm..."
"How about I give you a warning. If you ever say anything about my ethnicity again, I won't hesitate to put you into early retirement." Nikolai cracked his knuckles for the intimation factor and it worked wonders on the scrappy Monroe whose face showed an uneasy smile.
"Anyways, would you like to join us for poker. If not, you could just contribute to our conversation. We will be on this ship for quite a while you know," said Nate jestering his hand telling me to sit down next to him.
"I guess I'll just talk with you guys. I don't have the slightest clue about poker."
"We can always teach you how to play, chap."
"Maybe later. Thanks for the offer, Yardun."
"What exactly were we talking about," questioned Nikolai.
"I believe we were talking about the kind of women we prefer, then you were talking about your wife and two kids," Nate placed down his cards. "Royal flush."
"Oh you got to be fucking about. That's the second time that has happened," Yardun slammed his cards into the table in disbelief of what Nate had pulled off.
"So, are we going to keep talking about our preferences or is Nikolai going to talk about his wife and kids."
"Ah yes. My beloved wife and kids. Once this war is over, we plan to go on vacation to my hometown in Siberia."
"Well, let's hope that this war blows over so that we can go back to what we love most. I'm going to get my PHD and live out the rest of my life as a doctor," Nate gathered up the cards for another round of poker. As he was shuffling, he asked the others, "What are your guys' plans after this war is done?"
Yardun was the first to answer, "I'm going to open up a bakery in my little hometown. Hopefully get enough to get a ring and propose to my girl."
"Ah, bakeries. Something about them just makes them so great. For me, I'm going to be a journalist. Just got to get those headlines," Stile relined back on his chair.
"Me, I'm going to become an artist. Maybe sell comics or something," Monroe said with certainty.
"What about you kid? Do you have plans after the war? You probably have a girl waiting for you for your age," Yardun nudged me a little as if I were to give him an answer from that. I let out a soft sigh.
"I'm just going to keep sticking around in the military."
"What? You aren't going to go back home to greet your family?"
"I mean-"
"Everyone on deck, five minutes," a voice rang through the intercoms of the ship.
"Well, we don't have enough time for another game," Nate started to gather up the cards that he had just handed out to the three of them.
"So, you have a family you want to see when you get back?" Nikolai put his hand on my shoulder.
"I do. But, I don't think that they will greet me with open arms."
"Oh, well... Come on guys we have to get on deck. Sorry we asked, Shikikan." They all started to leave me alone, one by one like what my family did to me. The only difference was, They will be back.
"One hell of a place if you'd ask me," Shikikan took a sip of tea while on the phone with Monroe.
"Why would you say that? You are one lucky bastard to be on an island filled with hundreds of literal killer beauties."
"You'd say that now but you would be surprised at how boring it is to be operating Azur Lane."
"You're just saying that because you have always been an introvert that can't put up a simple conversation without mentioning your past."
"Shut up, Monroe. You're making me sound like an old man." Shikikan let out a silent yawn before taking another sip of his tea.
Monroe let out an audible chuckle, "Well, have you gone into depth with any of them?"
"No, of course not. I'm not to be in a relationship with them. Basic rules that you should already know. You know the reason why I called is to see how things are on your end you know?"
"Really? Well, things are going fine thank you very much. I just need to complete one or two more years of art school before I can go pursue my dream as an artist or animator."
"Well, I hope things go well for you."
"Enough of me. How are you holding up? Gotten into trouble yet?"
"No, not yet."
"Not yet? That makes it sound like you're planning something."
"You know what I mean. I'm not getting into trouble," he focused his glance outside staring at the scenic view that his office window is offering to him.
"Well, that is certainly hard to believe for someone like you."
"I told you, that I'm not getting into trouble. Not ever since I punched the captain."
"Yeesh. That turned out to be ugly real fast after that. You were put in the brig for a week for that. I'm just glad that things didn't get ugly during that fight between Winters."
"Well, I have a battle to attend with a fellow tactician. I'll call you back later."
"Oh can you send me a video of your-"
"No." He ended the call and finished up the rest of the contents in his mug placing it down on the coffee table. A knock at his door soon followed.
"Shikikan? Are you in here?"
"Yes, who is it?"
The door slowly opened up with Enterprise entering and looking out the door as if she were being followed on the way back. This action of course confused the commander in many ways.
"Enterprise, what did you do?"
"Hmmm? Oh, nothing. I was just making sure that Akagi wasn't following me on my way to tell you about the fleet battle that is about to start."
"It's always just you and Akagi fighting over each other constantly."
"I didn't ask or cause conflict with her."
"No, but your past is what makes her and Kaga resent you with a burning passion."
"I don't understand. We are now working together, but now… it's like nothing has changed. We are still at each other's throats."
"Hey, we have both seen war as how it is. It brings the worst out of us with scars that stay with us till the end. Grudges that can't be resolved with the simplest solutions. You certainly aren't the first two that had problems resolving your differences. Bismark and Hood, they are an interesting bunch."
"Well, I suppose that Akagi could be reasoned with. But, that isn't enough to get through her psychotic mind."
"Maybe I can reach her. Maybe, just maybe I can have her convinced."
"You would do that for me?"
"Well, let's just say that I'm returning the favor for what you have done for me so far as my secretary."
"Oh please, I haven't done anything of note just yet. I'm just good at combat. That is all."
"Then I better see results during this battle of wits."
'Yes, just point me in the direction and I'll comply, Shikikan. Please take care of us well."
"You treat me well on the field, I'll repay that kindness ten folds."
"By the way, have you been sleeping well? I can see bags under your eyes."
"Oh, it's nothing."
"I get that you have been putting up all nighters for this upcoming battle. But you need to let your body rest."
"How ironic for you to say, Enterprise. Afterall, you have been doing the same with refusing to eat well."
"Let's just say that a certain maid has come a long way to helping me change my ways."
"Well, I have been taking care of myself well. I'm just a little excited for this upcoming battle that I have been planning for a while now. Come on then, we don't want to be late. "
The time has come. A friendly battle with another in a battle of wits and tactics for a test of loyalty and power. A ten versus ten being able to place them in any way possible.
"Let's see here. Six vanguard ships and four main ships. I have Atago, Takao, Bel, Javelin, Cleveland, and Helena as my vanguard team. Enterprise, Illustrious, Nagato, and Essex are my main fleet ships. All of you checked your equipment and all ten of you are here," Shikikan looked over his clipboard analyzing the many parts to this whole battle.
"Alright, all of you listen to your tactician assigned to you and be in a fleet that consists of at least one vanguard and one main ship as the flagship. All of you should know the rules. If not, I'll go over them again. Vestal will be the referee for this battle. If she sees you take a substantial amount of damage, you are considered sunken and will be put out of commission and sitting on the bench until this battle is over. We will of course be using dummy rounds, but that doesn't mean you should go overboard with shelling the hell out of them or I will be held accountable for any serious injuries, do you get that?" They all nodded.
"The goal is simple, capture or sink the tactician which is considered the head. Your performance will be monitored by other sailors that are out at sea on small boats and will act as a border for this simulation battle. Anyone found outside the borders for even half a second, you will be considered deserters and will be automatically go into retirement. As for the battle itself, you will be moving accordingly to your assigned tactician. If your fleet's flagship is taken out, you are to be expected to regroup with another fleet as the flagship is the only one who is able to carry out and execute the head's plans. But, this doesn't mean that you can't defend yourselves while regrouping. Same goes for the flagship, but with the exception that the flagship could simply be a one man show if you are commanded to do so. Think of it as the fleet as a hand, the flagship as the palm and joints while the vanguard are the fingers following the signals given by the head. If the opposing side no longer has any flagships left, then you also win. Any questions?" All of them were silent.
"Good. Oh, I almost forgot. In order for you to bring out the best of you, here is some motivation. The one who performs the best according to the winner's tactician will be given a prize. The prize varies, if your team sinks the head, you get a small prize. If you manage to sink all of the flagships or capture the head, you will be rewarded with any wish as long as it is within my ability to do so. You will be on the waters in five minutes. Prepare and collect yourselves while you still can." He left the group to hear the many whispers of the rewards they are able to reap if they are able to become the star. He came to meet up with the other tactician.
"Shikikan-sama, are you ready to set the score?"
"Of course Amagi. We will see just how much you can do with a real fleet. I expect nothing less out of you, Amagi."
"The feeling is mutual."
"Can't wait to finally go out and command a fleet once again."
"Our actions as tacticians will show what we are capable of. Have you decided who will provide you with their ship for this battle?"
"I chose Sandy for this one. It is only fair to tell you since you will be using your own ship."
"I can only guess that you chose her for her Anti-Air."
"I can neither confirm nor deny your assumption."
"Shikikan-sama, have you been getting enough sleep?"
"Hmmm? Oh, yeah about that. Uhhh…I was just a little excited to finally have a real battle. Didn't get much sleep."
"Shikikan-sama, you do realize that you can't work well if you-"
"Yeah, yeah. I don't care about that. All I care about is getting right back into the action. I've been planning out for a while."
"Well, I hope that you live up to your name. As tacticians, we must guide our fleets to victory." She left to meet up with her fleet and started organizing them into fleets.
"Your five minutes break is almost over. You all better get in your designated fleet If you don't know which fleet you are in. Report to me." All of them seemed to know their places that they needed to be so Shikikan decided to report in with San Diego on the ship that she would let him borrow. Scouting around, he spotted the red haired girl singing on a makeshift stage which was just a large tub flipped over.
"Hey now! I a numba wan!"
"Sandy, enough with the solo musical. Is everything ready for sortie. If not, I'm sending you to the lecture hall and have Amazon give you a lesson on getting things done."
"Yes indeed. After all I a numba wan!"
"I love the energy. You better be keeping your ship afloat with that energy."
"Don't worry, as long as I'm not hurt you won't witness anything bad about this star."
"Right, right..."
Shikikan climbed onto Sandy's ship.
Entering the control room, he sees the hologram table waiting to be booted up. Finding the on switch, the table glowed to life displaying a blue light of the terrain of where they will be fighting.
"Alright, do your best out there."
Everyone is out and on the run on the water's surface. With him at the helm he thought to himself that nothing will go wrong as long as he follows the books that he had been reading for the past years. Sending out the Eagle Union fleet with Cleveland, Helena for reconnaissance and Enterprise and Essex as they send their planes out for support.
"Helena? Did you spot anything yet?" Enterprise said through her coms.
"Negative, nothing as of… wait hold on."
"What is it?"
"I see something."
"What is it?"
"Planes, several of them."
"This isn't good. Shikikan, orders?"
"What do you think? Shoot them down. If you need support, I'll reroute fleet two to your coordinates. They are nearby afterall."
"Roger."
"Fleet two how are things on your end? Are you almost in position?"
"Not yet, Shikikan. The water is a little choppy so it will take a little longer before we reach the rocks that you want us to camp out at," Illustrious said with planes buzzing in the background.
This isn't good. I thought the forecast said that there will be clear skies with little to no waves. Shit.
"Enterprise, how are things going with your fleet?"
"We took down most of the planes, but they keep coming in. At this rate Helena and Cleveland will be out."
Fuck.
"How many planes are we talking about here?"
"Around fifty a group."
"Ask Helena if she sees anything else on her radar?"
"She said it's hard to tell, there are too many dots. But, there seems to be a two or more dots that are at a stand still that are in the direction of where the planes are coming from."
Dammit Amagi. Are you playing a game of attrition with me?
"Fleet three move up. This is going to be a gamble, but the odds are in our favor. I will be fine on my own if they decide to hit me with an air strike. There will be an attack that will happen right after they are done burning their planes. I need you to move around fleet one and pinch the vanguard fleet when they appear."
"Shikikan, this is fleet two. We are in position."
"This is a bad time. Fleet two you are to move forward and to take out the carriers attacking fleet one. Given the amount of planes flying by, there are most likely two or three aircraft carriers are there giving hell to fleet one. Fleet three will back you up when they are done dealing with the impending attack."
Some time passed, Shikikan's head is getting dizzy. His eyes felt dry. Through the coms he can hear the many biplanes soaring and shells being launched out in the distance made him feel right at home with sounds that he is familiar with.
"Cleveland and Helena are out."
"What?"
"They got shelled by Bismark."
"Dammit, regroup with fleet three. Which direction did the shells come from?"
"North? Northwest-ish."
"How far?"
"I don't know, but it's far."
"Fleet two, I need you to move quickly in the direction of the shells. Forget playing defensive and move."
"Shikikan, the waters are getting more and more choppy. It will be hard for us to get there swiftly without getting detected eventually."
Damn these stupid waters.
"Stay where you are. Fleet three, I need you to retreat and regroup with what remains of fleet one. Come back to me and while fleet two does some plane recon and find their positions"
"Shikikan, we are a bit preoccupied at the moment. Prinz, Hipper, and Ayanami are giving us a bit of trouble," Atago's voice rang through with the sound of her katana clanging what he can only assume is the Iron Blood metal hounds.
"Fleet one what is your status?"
"The damn crane sisters are here giving us trouble."
"Is that all you got Grey Ghost?" Zuikaku's voice is barely within earshot with all of the clanging of their weapons.
Dammit, dammit. I did everything right. Everything I have learned is by the book. By the fucking book!
Shikikan punched the wall which responded with a loud clang. He punched it over and over again only to for the wall to respond with the same answer.
Why won't things ever go as planned? What is wrong with what I have done. You stupid, you stupid fucking idiot.
He ceased his anger when his knuckles started to begging him to stop his actions as the pain started to swell up. He took a look at his knuckles to see that they are internally bleeding making the tips of his knuckles a deep crimson red with a lighter shade of red as it went down.
Come on now, pull yourself together. Okay, I need to reassessment of this situation. Three of her vanguard ships are fighting the Sakura girls up front. Enterprise's fleet is dealing with the cranes to the east. The Royal Navy ships are getting nowhere fast with the waves moving against us to the west.
"Illustrious, can you scout the area?"
"Yes, I can."
"I need you to locate and take out Bismarck. If you come across her vanguard fleet. And I mean this, take them out as fast as possible before Bismark is able to land a shot. Belfast will provide smoke for both herself and Javelin to further increase their evasion. You will provide armor to make sure they don't get too damaged if you come across any OPFOR."
"Copy that, Shikikan."
"Shikikan."
"Yes, Atago?"
"We just finished off the vanguard fleet. But, we took some quite heavy hits from Ayanami's torpedoes."
"Retreat back to me. Nagato, I need you to provide shelling fire on the crane sisters. Please mind our friendly ships."
"Fleet two, I need a status report."
"This is Belfast. Javelin and I are making our way towards Bismark, but her vanguard is still able to land shots even when we are in smoke."
Again he heard someone else laughing just within distance to pick up through Belfast's earpiece.
"Hahaha, don't underestimate Yukikaze the Great!"
Jesus Christ. How can things be any worse?
"Shikikan-sama~"
"Akagi?!"
"Yes, yours truly."
"Why are you-"
"Oh, I just picked up the com from one of the pesky Eagle brats. But, I will be visiting you shortly~" The connection got severed. He had to make sure Enterprise was okay. He knew that if she is gone, all is lost if he is truly down a fleet. She was his trump card, his keystone in turning the battle around.
"Enterprise? Enterprise? Enterprise?!" (Sorry, I was playing Metal Gear and I just had to add this)
"I'm here. You don't have to scream in the mic so loudly. I just managed to get to regroup with fleet three with the expense of light damage and having to sacrifice Essex."
"Who told you to sacrifice her?"
"She did. We had no choice. We were overwhelmed. Akagi and Kaga showed up and things only went downhill from there."
"Well, report back to me. Let's hope that the four of you will be able to hold off-"
A bombshell landed near the ship causing it to shake vigorously for a second which caused him to be knocked off balance. Switching his gaze from the holo table to the control window, he saw several bombers heading towards him.
Oh Amagi, you shouldn't have.
It seems like the ship spotted the many planes coming towards my direction. The Anti-Air guns started to take pot shots at the many planes. In the process of shooting them, the bombers seemed to managed to hit the deck given that the ship started to shake and the deck was slightly covered in a red paint indicating damage. Focusing back at the table seeing fleet two in deep territory. This was the perfect time for him to strike at Amagi.
"Fleet two, I need you to either capture or sink Amagi, ASAP."
"This is Illustrious. Bel and I have sustained heavy torpedo damage from the two destroyers and our vanguard has been hit with a few shells from Bismark herself. This battle is going nowhere fast."
"Okay, I need you to take out her vanguard and Bismarck quicker. I don't care how impossible it may be, just take them down. Fleet three, I need you here along with Enterprise. I'm need as much Anti-Air to defend my ship."
"Roger, we are moving to your position."
Giving out the orders, he heard more planes in the distance flying towards his direction. Looked to him like around fifty or more planes were ready to drop their load or send him a torpedo package. The anti-air guns started to position itself to shoot down more of the planes. Knowing that he will probably barely make it out of this one, there will probably be more incoming.
"Dammit it all. Fleet three, I need you here now."
"We are almost there. Just hang on."
Changing his gaze back and forth in a panic, the planes started doing aerial maneuvers around the ship attempting to drop more bombs on the deck. Most of them started heading back to refuel and reload on more dummy explosives. Out of pure coincidence, he noticed that the planes were funneling in one area. Taking out a pair of binoculars, he spotted Akagi and Kaga were in peripheral range of his ship.
You just got to make things worse for me.
"Fleet three double time it! The foxes are in sight range of around seven hundred meters. You have around five hundred meters to cover in about two minutes before this whole battle comes to a conclusion."
Letting out a heavy sigh, he placed his hands on the holo table as he watched fleet three moving towards his location. The sound of guns firing made it hard for him to think of a new strategy.
Think you fool, think!
"Shikikan, this is Illustrious. Belfast, Javelin, and I have retired from this battle."
"What!? What happened this time?"
"It was Amagi that caused our undoing. Bismarck must have lead us in range of Amagi. Sorry, Shikikan," Illustrious said in a weak voice. "On the bright side, we managed to weaken her defensive vanguard,"
"There goes my win condition. All I'm left with is a heavily damaged fleet and a aircraft carrier. This is like trying to win a game of chess with nothing but a knight and bishop while my opponent has a few pawns and both of her rooks."
"Shikikan, this is fleet three. Enterprise has successfuly regrouped with us."
"Okay. Enterprise, I need you to send your planes in and try to break the four apart. The rest of the vanguards need to try to take down at least one of them to ruin their composition. If that doesn't happen then there is no hope in winning this one."
"Copy that."
Watching from a distance, he was able to spot out what is left of ten ships that he had. He couldn't see it the battle unfold itself too well, but he can only make up with what is happening. The clashing of swords, the bullets that zip past their heads, the geysers of ocean water blocking their peripheral vision. The thought of battle just made his mind want jump in and his heart throb with excitement.
"Shikikan, we managed to take down one of the crane sisters. The only thing is, Nagato is running out of shells and Takao has retired from multiple plane torpedoes."
"That's fine keep going. Take out one of the foxes next before reinforcements arrives."
"Shikikan, I need to refuel my planes before they can take off again."
"How long do you need?"
"About seventeen seconds."
"I don't think they can hold for more than seventeen seconds."
"Well, all I can provide is a small amount covering fire with my bow."
"Do what you must. Even if it means sacrificing others in order to secure our victory."
In the height of the battle out of the corner of his eye he sees Nimi and Yukikaze around fifty meters away from him. As he was about to call in, the match was already settled once Nimi had placed her hand on the ship.
"Game, Shikikan."
"Shikikan, Atago and Nagato have retired from an aerial bombardment . It's just us now fighting left."
"Enterprise, I'm sorry to say this. But my ship has been captured by Amagi's left over fleet."
"What!?"
"Checkmate, Shikikan-sama. You played well," Amagi said triumphantly.
A/N
Sorry that there isn't a new chapter this week. I will be posting a new chapter soon in maybe two to three days but don't take my word on it, finals are right around the corner and my teachers are stacking up the work.