In the main courtyard of the Naval District were all of the girls of the fleet gathered together. The reason they were all called here was that there was apparently an important announcement going to be made.
Up on a podium in the middle of the courtyard was Nagato. She tapped on the microphone and cleared her throat to signal to everyone to quiet down and listen to her.
"Alright everybody, settle down." Nagato said as she waited until she was sure she had everyone's attention. "I've just been told by the Admiral some important news. It seems that today we are going to be expecting a visitor to our Naval District."
As Nagato finished those words, murmurs and whispers came from the crowd along the lines of "What's the big deal about a visitor?"
"But it is not just any normal visitor." Nagato continued. "This person is a kanmusu as well like the rest of us. Now I know that kanmusu coming to our Naval District isn't something new, but this case is special as she is not from around here." This caught the attention of the girls as Nagato said that.
"What do you mean not from around here?" A voice from the crowd asked.
"As in she is not a ship of Japanese origin." Nagato answered. "Some of you might not know this, but countries around the world are starting to get their own Kanmusu as well just like us in order to fight the Abyssal threat. So in a show of solidarity, the Americans will start sending some of their own Kanmusu here to this base in order to assist us."
At the reveal in Nagato's words, the crowd erupted with murmurs and whispers but this time more ecstatic. The main topic of conversation of course being the reveal Nagato just told them of an American ship coming to their Naval District.
With the majority of them being ships of the IJN in the past, the idea of them meeting a USN kanmusu was certainly going to be a perplexing situation.
"The very first one they are sending is set to arrive today. So when she arrives, I expect all of you to treat the visitor with respect as you would any other person. This is important in maintaining our relationship with the Americans and we must be thankful for their support." Nagato said. She knew that this situation was complicated as well but she needed to clarify the importance of it.
"Otherwise, that is all. Dismissed!"
And so, every girl dispersed. Some returned to their daily routines, some started gossiping together about the new kanmusu, and some were anticipating the new arrival.
Out on the main dock of the naval district was Fubuki sitting down. She looked out onto the horizon over the water. After the announcement, she was one of the people that couldn't help but wait for the new visitor. Alongside her were friends Mutsuki and Yuudachi who decided they'd join her.
"So what do you guys think about this?" Fubuki asked her friends as they waited.
"About the American ship-poi?" Yuudachi asked.
Fubuki nodded.
"Well even if she is an American, whoever she is, I just hope that she's nice." Mutsuki piped in.
"You're not worried about the history we've had with them?" Fubuki asked?
"History is in the past! If the Americans are working with us now, surely we can all get along." Mutsuki said.
"Ah, but what if the Americans are mean-poi? After all, they were the ones that won the war." Yuudachi said.
"I'm sure she won't mean. They wouldn't be trying to help us if she were." Fubuki said trying to reassure Yuudachi.
"Oh, what are you guys doing here?" A new voice popped up.
Fubuki turned her head towards the source and looked to see two figures approaching them.
"Ah, Akagi-senpai! Kaga-senpai!" Her face brightened up as she saw who it was.
Seeing that it was Akagi who asked, Fubuki responded to her question. "We're just waiting here so we could meet the new kanmusu when she arrives."
"The American one right?" Kaga asked.
"That's right." Fubuki said. "Akagi-senpai, Kaga-senpai, what about you two? What do you guys think about this situation?"
"Well, hopefully I can get along fine with just her." Akagi said as she put her two hands together.
"As long as she is a capable kanmusu, I should have no problem with her." Kaga said while crossing her arms.
Fubuki nodded at their responses with a smile.
"Do you mind if we wait with you guys as well?"
"You're more than welcome to Akagi-senpai!" Fubuki said with a big smile and blush on her face. As Akagi and Kaga settled down right next to them, they turned back around to look over the horizon.
They sat and conversed with each other to pass the time as they waited for the arrival.
Suddenly, over the horizon, waves were being formed. Fubuki turned her head out towards the water. The other girls noticed as well and they all leaned a little bit forward to look. As they looked over they could see that the cause of the displacements came from a human figure soaring over the water. The silhouette starting to become bigger as the seconds passed by.
"Is that her?" Yuudachi asked.
"It should be." Fubuki said.
As the figure started coming closer, they could start seeing more clearly the characteristics and details of the person. She had straight long blonde hair. Her uniform's color scheme was blue and white and she was wearing a backpack. But the most important thing they noticed was the outfit she was wearing. In her right hand was what seemed to be a rifle. On her left arm was what seemed to be a flight deck, signifying her as a carrier.
Before long as they were observing her, the person had all but reached the edge of water right in front of them in the dock. They watched as the visitor dismounted from the water.
"Ah, finally made it!" The person said as she stepped onto land. She started stretching her legs at the familiar feeling of having land underneath her feet.
The group of girls a ways away were still observing the American. Feeling their gazes on her, the girl turned her head over to them as she noticed them. Being closer now, they could see that the she had stars in the pupil of her eyes as well. "Hello!" The visitor said cheerfully as she put her right hand up to a salute. "I'm the American visitor sent to arrive today. I'm the USS Enterprise, nice to meet all of you!" She said as she winked.
As soon as the words came out of her mouth, it felt like something struck Akagi and Kaga. A silent hush washed over the the carrier girls. Across their faces were looks of shock. Akagi had her mouth open while Kaga had a more scrunched up expression.
Huh? What is up with them? Fubuki thought.
"It's her..." Akagi said as her head dropped.
"Of course they would send her here first." Kaga said, following her sister and lowering her head as well. "I can't tell if they're insulting us by sending her first."
Fubuki had a confused look on her face as she looked between the new American girl and the carrier girls. She looked back at Yuudachi and Mutsuki with a questioning look but they shrugged their soldiers and had a confused look as well.
"Huh, what a weird reception." Enterprise said as she put a finger underneath her chin.
"Uh, they're usually not like that eheheh." Fubuki said scratching the back of her head as she turned to face the girl.
"Hmm, if you say so." Enterprise said with a smile that looked as if she was skeptical. "Well anyways, I was told that I gotta go report to your Admiral immediately as soon as I arrived here so I'll see you guys around!" Enterprise said as she waved them goodbye and headed off.
"Enterprise huh?" Fubuki muttered.
"So, Enterprise huh?"
"Yes sir." Enterprise said while saluting.
Enterprise was currently standing in the Admiral's office. She had just entered and introduced herself.
"What an interesting choice for the first girl they decided to send me." The Admiral muttered to himself all the while having a small amused grin. To send the most fable US warship of WW2?
"Sir?"
"It's nothing." He said straightening up in his chair returning her salute as they both lowered their hands afterwards.
"Well. We're honored and glad to have you with us. We truly appreciate the help that the USN is sending."
"We're glad to aid in the fight against the Abyssals sir."
"Pleased to hear that. I guess I should probably report to your superiors that made it here across the Pacific safely as well. Were there any problems getting here?"
"Nope! It was mostly smooth sailing. Encountered an abyssal here and there but nothing that me and my boys couldn't handle." Enterprise said as she raised her Springfield rifle.
"That's good. I guess the first thing to do is to get yourself situated here on the base." The Admiral said. "Usually girls bunk with other girls around here. Would you be comfortable rooming with others?" The Admiral asked. He was aware of the history involving American and Japanese ships, but he needed to ask to make sure.
"No problem at all sir." Enterprise said while still smiling.
"You sure?"
"I'm completely fine with it sir."
"Well alright." The Admiral said. He took out a piece of paper and wrote down a room to assign to her. "You can go on ahead over to the dorms where the aircraft carriers lodge. Get yourself settled in, take a tour around the place if you want."
"Will do sir." Enterprise said as she saluted one more time and exited the office.
"*Sigh* I hope this all works out okay." The Admiral muttered as he laid back in his chair.
Enterprise walked along the path towards the dorms. As she made her way towards her destination, she moved her head around to take a look around at her new surroundings. The Naval District seemed like a very nice place. She saw all the girls running around and smiled at how energetic the place was.
But what she really noticed was the looks that she was getting from the people all over the place. She could feel all the stares that were being directed at her that she was under. They were all whispering among themselves as she passed by. She could understand why though. An American visiting their base surely is something that would be perplexing to them. But it wasn't just that. She knew that kanmusus retained their memories of their original lives as ships. And she knew that most of these ships were former IJN ships. Most of them probably fought the USN back in WW2. So their feelings towards American kanmusus would probably be complicated. That much she realized.
She wondered how they would react to her. Having lived throughout the whole war from the beginning to the end, it's probably safe to say that she probably fought a majority of these ships. Enterprise knew of her fabled status as a legendary ship in WW2. If the reactions of those ships at the docks were anything to go by, she knew she could be expecting a couple more like that.
And all of that wasn't even taking into account her own feelings. She didn't know how she should feel about all of this personally.
Her higher-ups back in the states stressed the importance of this little exchange between the JMSDF and USN. They were on the same side now and shared the same objective. They had to work together now in order to fight the Abyssals. It was better to stand united and to work together if they wanted to have a fighting chance in ending the Abyssal threat.
And so this program began. Many of the girls were probably just as skeptical as the Japanese ships around her in working with an old enemy. That was why she volunteered first to do this. The higher-ups agreed to send her as their first ship. It made sense to them and was kind of poetic that their best ship in WW2 would be the first to come.
Enterprise had been nervous on the way here. She always did what she had to do. Just like in the war, her personality was devoted to doing her duty the best she could. So she decided that she would go forward with American optimism. In the words of Halsey, "Hit Hard, Hit Fast, Hit Often." She didn't know if that was appropriately used. But she swore to herself that she would go ahead and try to make the best for herself in this situation. Who knows what could happen? Maybe it could be fun for her.
As she finished her thoughts, she realized she finally made it to the aircraft carrier dorms.
She headed inside the building and made her way up towards the room that the Admiral had assigned her.
Enterprise found the room number. She knocked on the door before entering. "Excuse me." Enterprise said as she stuck her head through the door.
Two girls were already in the room around the table as she peeked in. They turned around and looked at her.
"Oh, hello there." The first girl with white long hair said.
"Uh hi." Enterprise said as she stepped into the room. "I was uh, assigned to this room by the Admiral."
"You're the new arrival right? The American?" The second girl, the one with grayish-brown hair in twintails said.
"Yeah, that's me." Enterprise said smiling as she walked up to them.
"Well in any case, welcome to our room, which I guess is also now your room." The white-haired girl said.
"Ah thanks. I guess I'll get settled in then." Enterprise said as she walked over to a bed and took off her backpack and laid it down.
"So considering you're here in the carrier dorm, I assume you're a carrier as well?" The twintailed girl said.
"You know it."
"Ooh, another carrier. Surely that will help us immensely." The white-haired girl said with a smile as she put her hands together.
"I guess so." The other girl said before turning back to Enterprise. "I guess introductions are in order if we're going to be roommates. My name is Zuikaku." She said putting a hand on her chest. "And this is Shoukaku-nee. I hope we can get along." She said lifting her hand and pointing it to to the other girl.
O crap. Enterprise thought.
As soon as she heard their names, she cringed internally. On the outside, she was still happy and smiling. On the inside, she could feel some glass shattering. Out of all the people to be roomed with, I got stuck with the Crane sisters?!
Said people were now staring at her, waiting for her to introduce herself now. Enterprise panicked, wondering how she was going to go about with this. Recalling her earlier thoughts, she did say she was gonna go forward with American optimism. She might as well come out with it.
"The name is Enterprise. Nice to meet you guys." Enterprise said with a smile. "Again..." She added not as enthusiastically and a bit more silent.
It took a second for the words to register in the sisters' heads before they realized who it was they were talking to.
"Ehhhhh?!" Both of them yelled.
"Eheheh." Enterprise said scratching the back of her head with a sweat drop.
Welp, there you guys go. That's the introduction to the story, hope you liked it. With Iowa as the first USN ship in KanColle, her introduction gave me the motivation to write this. Who doesn't want to see USN ships interact with the IJN ships? Hopefully we'll get more USN ships in the future as well. As for this fic, it's pretty typical for any USN fic to star Enterprise but I hope to introduce more ships later on. Lots of potential things you could write about with other ships.