"Agent 5, what are you doing?" The intercom whispered into my ears.
"What do you mean?" I toured the festivities.
"You shouldn't be wandering around and trying all the food." The radio sighed. "This shouldn't even be new to you."
"Well, it's been a long time." I chided her. "What's wrong with some nostalgia eating?"
"You have a foremost mission." The radio reminded me. "Observe the Siren okay?"
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"I am doing that..." I bought a cookie dough ice cream cone. "What's wrong with enjoying myself for now? The Siren's round doesn't start for a bit."
"Fine." The radio compromised. "Just make sure to watch her closely this round."
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"About that." I tapped my foot as the brain freeze settled in.
"About what?" The radio seemed a bit disgruntled.
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"I'm going to be watching Portland's match today." I broke the news.
"No you are not!" The radio blared. "You need to be watching Curosi-"
"I have a plane up to observe her." I bargained with the radio. "I want to wa-"
"Agent 5!" The radio interrupted. "You are one of our most valuable assets! You will get caught if you dec-"
"I won't get caught." I relieved her. "Just trust me."
"Agent 5-"
I shut the radio down.
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"So what did the commander say?" My escort destroyer asked.
"We can watch Portland for just this day." I gave a white lie.
My escort's face glowed.
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It's been too long, Portland.
I began to smile.
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Disclaimer: Indy best girl
Allright. Moral of the story:
Don't procrastinate and be forced to write the next chapter at 12 pm.
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I'm not going to learn this lesson am I?
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Reviews:
Rick Astley: I can't really get my way out of this one lmao. Srry
The One: 24 Essex and 100 Fletchers. Lewd...
Severak: Indeed! What is another way we can make it more dirty? (No Portland, not an Indy Strip Club)
John: Nicholas has 18 battlestars. Just watch out for her (- - ).
Portland's POV:
"I've heard what happened with Louisville." Intrepid walked beside me. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine." I nodded. "I didn't get hurt, at least. It should be fine."
"Well that's good." Intrepid began to scan the crowd. "Is Montpelier not coming?"
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"Probably." I sighed.
"What even happened to her?" Intrepid asked. "I thought your relationship was going pretty well."
"In order to get her sister Cleveland on board, I had to make sure the Montpelier didn't get hurt at all." I explained to her as we passed the Donut shop I used to eat at with Indy. "I think Montpelier took it the wrong way though."
"It'll be fine." Intrepid comforted me. "Montpelier tends to forget about this in a matter of days."
"I really hope so." I sighed.
"I've heard she won against Iowa without taking a scratch." Intrepid notified me. "She might just come back to spite/tease you or something."
I saw Montpelier's head swim hurriedly beneath the waves of the crowd before disappearing again.
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"Probably not." Intrepid grimaced.
"This is just an overreaction, right?" I negotiated. "I mean, I didn't say anything too bad."
"You're right." Intrepid confirmed. "Montpelier is going through that phase in life, and she probably wants some Independence." (1)
"I thought she liked Cleveland?" I narrowed my eyes.
"Noun, not person." Intrepid clarified. "You ought to go talk to her about this soon."
"Yes." I began to refocus on my goal, entering the gym. "Let's cross that bridge once we come to it."
"Good Luck." Intrepid waved at me before turning around.
"Thank you." I waved back before being tapped on the shoulder. I turned around to find myself face to face with a passive aggressive Heavy Cruiser.
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"Portland." Baltimore once again pulled me aside. "Why did you not dismember Louisville like I asked you to?"
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"I didn't want to." I responded nervously. I began to feel Baltimore's venting breath on my neck. She had a towering aura; one akin to the likes of Enterprise.
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"She tried to kill you." Baltimore grabbed my shoulders and locked eyes with me. "And you let her go without revenge. Why."
"We are on the same side of the war." I gulped. "There is no reason I would need to disfigure her."
"She is your enemy." Baltimore scolded me. "Not only is she that, she has consistently created chaos and attacked other friendly ships. She has already put my sister out of commission. She was going to do the same to you. She is no ally of ours. She is a criminal."
"Even a criminal deserves another chance." I defended my actions. "No matter how badly they screw up."
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Baltimore let go of me in disgust. "You do know the deal is off now."
"I do." I stepped out of her way.
"You have made a grave mistake." Baltimore walked past me. "I suppose Indy isn't coming back so soon after all."
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I clenched my fist.
"Baltimore!" A destroyer ran up to my opponent. "Here are the special tournament rounds you've requested!"
"Thank you, Cooper." Baltimore reloaded her turrets.
"I don't see why you even need these bullets." Cooper figited. "I mean, aren't you gonna win no matter what?"
"I would be very cautious." Biloxi wiped Baltimore with a napkin. "You are facing a criminal, after all."
"But Baltimore beats all criminals!" Cooper chirped. "She's never lost a fight against any other cruiser!"
"Better safe than sorry." Biloxi recited. "Let's not ruin her record, then."
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"Huuuuuhh?" (2) Cooper pestered the light cruiser. "Did losing to that nobody destroyer hurt your feelings?"
"She was dangerous." Biloxi defended herself.
"But you're supposed to be in the top 8!" Cooper tapped her. "You should have beaten her."
"Maybe you should try fighting her." Biloxi pinched Cooper.
"You were that scared?" Cooper slapped Biloxi's bottom. "Did you pee your pants?"
"Let's not." Baltimore interrupted the short feud before turning towards me. "We still have a ship to fight."
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"Allright, Baltimore!" Cooper nodded furiously as Baltimore entered the ring.
"Portland." Baltimore rolled up her sleeves. Her numerous gold medals glimmered on the dark blue trench coat. I watched as her turrets began to calibrate, rotating in circles as motor oil began to funnel into her engine. "Let us have a good match, Okay?"
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"Indeed." I cracked my knuckles. Baltimore placed one foot forwards and studied herself to the ground. I lightly hopped on the water waiting to counter her first blow. Here we go.
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My sense of dread began to drain out as I waited in anticipation.
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Baltimore glared at me, motioning to attack her.
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I kicked some water at Baltimore's face. She didn't flinch.
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I snorted in realization.
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She was waiting for me to attack her.
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Baltimore and I were both defensive fighters.
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My earlier analysis had led me to think she was an aggressive close combat weapon. But I never considered the fact that all of Baltimore's opponents had rushed at her first. She wasn't aggressive. She was just responding to a quick first strike.
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The one that wins this match is the one which will crack first.
"What are you waiting for, Baltimore?" Cooper shouted from the sidelines. "Hurry up!"
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Baltimore began to nervously sweat.
"Just beat her!" Cooper heckled. "Come on! Let's go!"
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Baltimore shifted her position from a defensive to a neutral stance. She was going to attack soon.
I took a deep breath and stamped my mechanical foot down. Baltimore took this momentary imbalance and rushed at me, falling for the bait. Within arms distance, I took my metal leg and scraped it against Baltimore's leg, ripping her pantyhose into shreds.
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Baltimore stumbled back in either awe or suprise.
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Then it hit me.
Baltimore was only a strong fighter because her defensive strategies directly countered Montpelier's blizzard of kicks or Independence's air swarm. She was banking on me to do the same.
She could not beat my waiting game, and she knew it.
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Baltimore made one more dash at my head, bringing her hand back and leaping towards me. I quickly ducked under the obvious strike and crammed my fist into the side of her head before turning back. But just before I could maintain the distance, a cluster of shotgun rounds dug into my skin.
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Gripping my back, I slowly began to back away from the grazed Heavy Cruiser.
She had loaded short range burst pellets into her barrels. Her plan was to bring me close and crush me with the slugs in a knockout blow. I need to stay at midrange.
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Baltimore and I began to circle each other.
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"Why is this soo boring?" Cooper groaned.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, I fired a main volley just as Baltimore turned to the sound. On instinct, Baltimore covered her face with her armoured hull.
Baltimore gritted her teeth.
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A plan formulated into my head. Like me, Baltimore uses her hull as a shield.
No shield lasts forever. All I need to do is crack it. Never close the distance and bombard her until she surrenders.
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I peppered Baltimore with split volleys of explosives. Her hull began to creak as she continued to defend herself with the angled armour of her starboard side.
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300 rounds left.
I continued to fire at will at the bunkered up Cruiser.
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200 rounds left.
A series of cracks began to form along the waterline.
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100 rounds left.
The edge of Baltimore's hull began to crumple beneath the bombardment.
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50 rounds left.
The tip of Baltimore's superstructure began to cave in to itself.
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25 rounds left.
Baltimore's hull camouflage began to melt off.
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I don't have enough stored ammunition to beat Baltimore. Clicking my tongue in frustration, I dropped the siege and began to reload my guns. No longer suppressed, Baltimore shed her hull and charged at me while my hands were busy fitting in the last of my rounds.
Immediately, I lifted my right foot and kicked Baltimore's knee, stamping my footprint into her skin. As Baltimore stopped in her tracks, I chambered my legs and kicked her face, forcing her to stagger away.
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Baltimore rubbed her red face as flakes of skin began to peel off. Taking but a second to rest, the heavy cruiser once again bolted towards me with pure adrenaline. I lowered my turrets and shot a blast at Baltimore, who jumped back in anticipation. I winced as an uncomfortable grinding noise hummed from the overheating barrel.
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Baltimore glared at me wearily.
"What's wrong, champion?" I baited. "Too scared?"
"Not in the slightest." Baltimore kicked some water into the air. I closed my eyes as it splashed against my face. Suddenly, a fist connected against my head. I stumbled backwards as my vision began to blur.
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Damn it!
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I was too careless.
Get up and focus.
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Baltimore began to aggressively throw punches and launch kicks at the hull curled around me. A blast from her shotgun turret ricocheted off the angled armour.
My vision is too dizzy. I can't use it.
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I shut my eyes and honed in onto the sound of the water. The constant swirling of the waves combined with the shockwaves of Baltimore's attacks ringed in my ears.
I lifted my foot and kicked at Baltimore's echolocated position. It bristled in the open air as Baltimore pushed me from behind.
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I didn't practice my ears good enough.
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Jumping upwards from the ground, I was met in mid air with a stinging blast of shotgun bullets. I was propelled to the edge of the ring, my body feebly rolling in the waves before gradually stopping.
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This is why Baltimore is the head of the Officer Corp. I underestimated her.
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Worry about that later, Portland.
Just Breath in.
I clutched my side and slowly picked myself up to all fours.
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I have to make my vision work.
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Baltimore began to slowly walk towards me, dragging her turret behind her.
I don't have enough energy to fight back.
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Improvise. What can you do?
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Attack the legs? Gun Blast.
Fire the turrets? Hull Block.
Jump at her? Gun Blast.
Back away and keep distance? Gun Blast.
Throw Projectiles? Hull Block.
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Think! There must be something you can do? Improvise!
"Would you like an improvised submarine lesson?" Intrepid threatened.
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That's it.
Dive underwater to avoid her first blow and then boost out of the sea and shoot up. That way, I can bypass her defenses with just one salvo. This is the only gate through her short range defenses. Is there any way?
My logical side began to comprehend the riskiness of this operation. If I exit out of the sea, I will be stationary and no longer able to move. I won't have enough ammunition to force a distance as well. There is no doubt that I will not be able to win once I risk it.
But I don't have any other option. I must knock Baltimore out in this final gamble.
I must hit somewhere good.
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"Finish me." I grimaced at Baltimore. The Heavy cruiser snorted. Shaking her head, Baltimore lifted her gun out of the water and ran at me.
I took one last gasp of air as Baltimore's body began to tunnel at me. When she entered arms length, I dropped my anchor and sank underneath the tide.
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You have one chance.
Closing my eyes, I flipped underwater and launched a final salvo towards the air before re-emerging to the surface.
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Did I make it?
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In front of me was Baltimore's back. Her jagged superstructure arched forwards as her guns slowly rotated at me. The cape behind her fell into the water, slowly sinking beneath my sight. Her curled up sleeves unfolded, falling far beneath her hands.
Baltimore tilted her head at me. Her crisp yellow eyes gleamed with savage intent. A streak of blood began to drip from her nose. Her murderous demeanor silenced the entirety of the stadium.
In one heavy step, Baltimore turned her body towards me. All nine shimmering turrets wordlessly slanted at me.
Her face turned red.
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And then purple.
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Baltimore fell forwards onto the ground, clutching her crotch.
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Cooper and Biloxi hurriedly brought Baltimore away to a stretcher.
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"Congratulations." Essex softly clapped to me from the side lines. Behind her lied Princeton and Independence. "You have won block B."
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"You have made it to the top eight."
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Third Round Standings:
Essex 1 - 0 Mullany
Baltimore 0 - 1 Portland
Morrison 0 - 1 Montpelier
Princeton 1 - 0 Stephen Potter
Independence 1 - 0 Boise
Archerfish 1 - 2 Intrepid
Curiosity 1 - 0 Bataan
Nicholas 1 - 0 San Diego
Eliminations:
Baltimore - Round 3 (Projected Finalist)
San Diego - Round 3
Biloxi - Round 2
Louisville - Round 2
Footnotes:
(1): If a ship girl had a period, would it spill out oil?
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I am so sorry.
(2): Cooper channeling her inner Hipper here
Portland's in the top 8~
She just beat the projected finalist for her half! Who could have expected this?
You see, while Baltimore has 6 in belt armour, Portland has impenetrable plot armour!
Or does she?
And who is Agent 5 and her Destroyer?
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I may have put too many hints in there...
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Anyways, see you next week!