There was an awkward pause, as I finally connected the dots.

I made the 'timeout' sign with my hands, "So... hold up!" I turned and pointed at the Ta, who flinched, "What was this '04's original orders in that battle?"

The captured ship seemed uncertain, "She did not tell you?"

I shared a look with Chitose, "Lets... just, pretend 04 hasn't said anything to us, what were her orders as you knew them?"

The Ship lowered her head in submission, "Yes, Ma'am." She raised her head to continue.

"Jersey knew the city's population would try to make a break for safety, 04" she nodded at Diane, "was given the task of flanking through the Mekong river, before turning westward on the Vam Nao. It was to bring her forces in behind the evacuation and cut off your retreat."

Lao, still watching the Ta warily, joined in, "It almost worked," the ship looked at her as the Frigate continued, "we fought her group right before they made the turnoff into the Song Hau, if they'd arrived a little sooner, we'd have been trapped between them and Jersey's main force."

"And I suppose that is when you turned on your escort?" Ta-01 faced Diane once again, "a Fast Battleship against Destroyers and Imps at point blank range... I have to admire your betrayals' timing if nothing else, they wouldn't have stood a chance."

Diane huffed, her patience starting to wear thin, "I didnot turn on Anyone!" She stamped her 'foot', inadvertently unbalancing herself when it sank into the soft forest floor, she yanked it out with a huff, "I am not this 04 you speak of!"

Ta-01 wasn't having any of it from her seeming sister ship, Yes you are, Sister! I recognize that hull anywhere!" She pointed at Diane's face, where a negligible dent could be seen, "Remember that? Jersey gave you that during one of her 'fits', I'm the one that picked you off of the floor when she backhanded you!"

Chitose scrunched her brows, "She attacks her own ships?"

The Captured ship started to shake her head, before pausing, "No, well, yes. If she actually bothered to attack you, you would be dead," she pointed back at Diane, "that mark there? That's just what happens when you are too close to her when she is screaming at herself."

Lao's eyebrows joined Chitose's in their climb, "That raises even more questions." she said.

I cut in, "Questions for later!" I clapped my hands, trying to project cheerfulness I didn't quite feel, "I think I should probably answer some of your own." Man this was gonna suuuuck.

The Ta watched me warily, unable to try and back away in the state she was in, "I haven't asked any, that I'm aware of?" She blanched a moment later, and quickly ducked her head again, "I a-apologize, Ma'am, it must have slipped my mind!" she sounded almost desperate, like I'd attack her or something.

I was starting to see some disconcerting insight on what Jersey probably treated her fleet like, if this was the response when she realized she was questioning me.

I simply waved it away, "Don't worry about it! And don't bother with the Ma'am-Miss howdoyoudo. My name is Georgia, you should use it." I smiled, thumbing at myself.

She simply ducked her head again, "As you wish M-Georgia."

My smile grew a little strained, "No worries, something tells me you'll have a whole slew of things to call me by the end of this conversation." Well, time to rip off the Band-Aid!

"I... don't quite follo-"

I bulled right through, "Ta-04 is dead."

The Captured ship paused a moment, not quite comprehending, "I-I'm sorry?"

I ripped it off hard, "She's dead, kaput, sunk, de-life'd, departed the mortal coil." I stopped my deluge of death synonyms when Chitose gave my shoulder a hard 'pat', I glanced at her, before sighing, turning back, "She committed to the attack on our fleet and she was... lost, with all hands." I finished.

The Ta looked pole-axed, "But she's... forgive me, Risen, but she's right there." she pointed to Diane.

The indicated vessel stepped forward, "My name is truly Diane, I was Awakened a mere handful of days ago, Miss One. Within a temple in Kaoh Thum." She started to fiddle with her hands.

The Ta's voice was one of shock, "B-But your hull, your voice..." she was brought up short with a small gasp, as she looked closer, "Y-Your eyes... they, they were green, before."

I crossed my arms, "Just because the hull sinks, does not mean it can't rise again. I'm a Sub, we're all about rising and sinking" I smirked halfheartedly at my lame joke, "She went down without much external damage at all, other than a few... tears, around the base of her bridge." I wasn't about to detailhow she got them. I have tact.

…

Shut up I do!

"You... you killed her?" I nodded in silent reply, "But, how is she here? SHES RIGHT HERE!" She pointed at Diane. I sighed.

"Like I told Chitose, we're ships, and ships can be re-floated, we can be repaired. The crew may come and go, but the hull remains." I un-crossed my arms, " To be a Vessel is to hold something, and she was... emptied. Her crew died, I simply gave her a new one, with a new name." I gestured at the Fast Battleship.

"Diane."

Ta-01's new eyes grew wide, "S-Sister."

Diane shook her head, "I'm sorry, Miss One." She held Ta-01's gaze with her own, "Miss Four is no longer here."

…

The Ta's gaze slowly lowered to the ground.

"So... she, didn't betray us, me, then?" The Ta didn't seem particularly enthused by the revelation.

"Nope, went down scr-swinging all the way." I said.

Ta-01 seemed to slowly come to a realization, "Then, the mission, the entire reason we were sent out here, to chase down a traitor, I..." The Ta put her head in her hands, "There never was one, was there?" She looked up for confirmation, I nodded.

The Ta started to cry.