In the early mourning hours of the twenty-fourth, the fleets arrived at their new position. With night grounding their air support destroyers were positioned in a circle around their formations. Now, all they could do is wait.

"It's so dark."

"It could be worse. At least we have a little bit of moonlight."

She just 'hummed.' "You think we'll find the Abyssals?"

She sighed, "I hope we do."

She didn't say anything to that and went back to searching for the Abyssals. Time passed as they cruised at fifteen knots but the Abyssal fleet has yet to be spotted.

"Where are they."

"Maybe the air attacks caused them to retreat."

"Maybe."

They fell into silence as they continued to scan for Abyssals. A quick glance at her radar revealed nothing.

"Let's slow to eight knots for a minute."

"Why?"

"I want to see if my hydrophones pick up anything."

"Hmm, not a bad idea."

They slowed and listened to their hydrophones. Nothing.

"Okay. No radar contacts and no sonar contacts. I'm starting to think the Abyssals turned tail and ran."

She nodded absentmindedly still listening to her hydrophones.

"Are you listening?"

"Oh, sorry. Yes, I agree it does look like the Abyssals ran." She paused for a moment. "That's not like them though."

"No, but some of the Abyssals have been getting smarter."

She opened her mouth but stopped.

"What is it?"

"Contacts. Bearing: 3-4-7."

Just as she finished dozens of flashes light up the ocean! Their ears were assault by dozens of guns firing at once.

"We found them!"

"FIRE AT WILL!"

They fired upon the closest target! Star shells exploded above them as shells landed all around them. Her own guns fired star shells and her sister did the same. The Abyssal fleet was illuminated as much by the star shells as their own guns.

"Target that enemy destroyer! Range damn close!"

Their guns fired away rapidly scoring hits. Soon, the destroyer had fires raging and rapidly slowed. There was a large explosion toward the aft of the destroyer and its guns fell silent.

Gridley winced as multiple shells slammed into her hull. Her sister was in worse shape with one of her guns destroyed and two fires raging. She launched a spread of torpedoes and turned away.

"Salt Lake! We need immediate assistance!"

"Copy that! Nashville! Assist Gridley and Craven!"

"On it!"

She took aim at a light cruiser and fired! Seven of her shells tore into the Abyssal causing an explosion! Her next salvo scored another five hits. The cruiser started to turn away and fired back. She scored more hits on the retreating cruiser before switching her fire to a destroyer. She scored multiple hits in rapid secession starting numerous fires. Soon, the destroyer was engulfed in flames.

Salt Lake was dueling an Abyssal heavy cruiser. While her main battery engaged the cruiser her secondaries engaged a destroyer. By now the sky was filled with star shells illuminating both fleets.

Salt Lake cussed up a storm when one of her gun turrets was destroyed. She lashed out scouring five hits and saw a fireball rise from her target. She ordered her secondary guns to target the heavy cruiser. Suddenly, a second, larger explosion rocked her target. Despite this, it still continued to engage. Two shells hit at her waterline tearing open her hull and allowing water to rush in. It didn't have much of an effect on her and she continued to engage. Her target was basically at a dead stop. Her 5 in and 8 in guns scored hits rapidly and two back-to-back explosions rocked her target. Its guns fell silent and she switched her fire to a second cruiser.

Gridley and Craven had joined with her squadron. Despite their heavy damage, they formed up with her squadron's destroyers. Behind them, the guns of Battle squadron thirty-eight and the Tenth fleet roared. Indiana's secondary guns targeted one of the many destroyers while her main battery engaged a battleship. In front of her was North Carolina. Her 5 in guns were firing upon a cruiser while her 16 in guns fired upon the second battleship.

Indiana growled as more HE shells smashed into her hull. They weren't doing much other than destroying her AA guns and starting fires. Her 5 in guns tore a destroyer apart and switched fire to another. Six of her 16 in shells slammed into a battleship but it didn't slow down. More HE shells slammed into her cocking off the ready use ammunition for multiple 40 mm and 20 mm cannons. The explosions started multiple small fires.

She grits her teeth when five shells slammed into her. Two of them hit her superstructure doing minimal damage while the other three hit her belt armor. At such close range, the shells penetrated her belt armor doing heavy damage. Eager for revenge, her guns thundered bathing everything around them light for a second. Five of her shells found their mark and there was a large explosion on the Abyssal. Two smaller explosions followed shortly afterward. Indiana continued to fire until the battleship was nothing but a burning hulk.

She stole a quick glance at Carolina. She was winning her duel with the Abyssal battleship but was in bad shape. The constant HE fire had marred her hull and started numerous fires. She had a list to port and her speed had dropped to twenty-three knots.

"Carolina! Switch!"

She didn't say anything. She pulled out of line and allowed Indiana to overtake her then fell back into line. All the while her guns were constantly firing. With Indiana now leading all the fire that was being sent to Carolina was now directed at her. Dozens of shells slammed into her every few seconds tearing her superstructure apart, starting multiple fires, and destroying most of her AA guns.

Northampton saw the battering Indiana was taking and cussed. She turned her anger on the closest Abyssal cruiser and fired. Her shells screamed in and a catastrophic detonation of the forward magazine tore the ship apart.

"YEAH!"

"That's a fucking fireworks display right there!"

Northampton smiled and then immediately cussed when she was hit. She fired upon the Abyssal scoring four hits.

"TORPEDOES! Torpedoes in the water!"

She didn't wait for her spotters and tuned in hard to port. She heard screams of pain as some of the torpedoes found their mark. She didn't dare look, instead, she kept her focus on her target.

"Torpedoes ahead. We'll slip right between them."

She nodded slightly and fired another salvo. A shell came screaming in and obliterated her radar. At such close range and with so many star shells in the air it didn't affect her accuracy.

Following behind Battle Squadron 38 is the Tenth fleet. It was clear to Renown that the Battle Squadron was taking the brunt of the fire. That didn't mean the Abyssals were ignoring them.

Six 203 mm AP shells slammed into her armor belt. At close range, the shells penetrated and exploded doing heavy damage. She ignored the sharp pain and fired a full broadside at the heavy cruiser. All six of her 381 mm shells found their mark. Two of its main guns were destroyed and two large explosions light up the night sky! Her secondary guns hammered away scoring dozens of hits each minute. Every few seconds, smaller explosions rocked the Abyssal as ammunition for its AA guns cooked off. She fired another salvo from her main guns finishing it off.

Behind and off to her port side, Exeter was leading the cruisers. Their battle line fired salvo after salvo against Abyssal cruisers. Their destroyers formed their lines in front of Renown and the cruisers. They were engaged in a brutal gunfight with Abyssal destroyers.

Daring turned hard to avoid an incoming salvo. The shells landed a few meters off her starboard side. Behind her, her sister, Defender yelled, "We seem to be popular sis!"

Daring laughed, "This is not the type of attention I was looking for!"

She dodged more shells while keeping her fire rapid and accurate. Black smoke and fire rose from her target. Its hull was marred by shell holes and one of its guns is destroyed. One after another her guns fired sending four 120 mm shells toward her target. She watched the shells hit the Abyssal punching more holes in its hull. She could tell it had internal fires burning. She fired four more salvos and her target was critically damaged. It had a substantial list to starboard and was moving at a snail's pace. It listed further to starboard and rolled over.

"I've got more radar contacts! Range: Twenty-thousand yards!"

"We'll worry about them later!"

There was a massive explosion from the Abyssal battle line as one of their cruisers detonated spectacularly!

"Damn fine work Augusta!"

"Thank you." She said it so quietly that Houston didn't hear her.

Renown raised her hand to her ear.

"-Ne- assi-a-"

"Repeat. Who is this?"

"T-ee under- ne-"

"Clear that transmission up."

"Working on it ma'am."

"Tennessee requ- assis- under att-"

"Tennessee this is Renown. What is your position?"

Nothing but static.

"Ma'am! I see flashes behind us!"

"That must be Tennessee and California. Augusta, Exeter, Houston, Leander, Daring, Defender with me! Tuscaloosa! You're in command!"

"Won't let you down Renown!"

The hastily assembled force broke formation and headed toward the flashes behind them.

"Incoming INCOMING!"

"AH! Son of a bitch!"

"Reid you alright!?"

"I've been in worse spots!"

"That doesn't tell me anything!"

"Destroyers! It's time to go fishing! Torpedoes widespread!"

The destroyers who had clear firing arcs launched their torpedoes. Dozens of torpedoes swam toward the Abyssals creating a net of sorts. Twenty seconds a massive column of water marked a hit! A second followed then a third and a fourth! A light cruiser was hit twice toward the stern breaking it off! A very unlucky destroyer was hit twice amidships breaking its back and sending it down in two pieces!

"I'm pulling out of the line!"

"Understood Northampton!"

With one of her gun turrets destroyed, all of her port side secondaries destroyed, and multiple fires raging Northampton pulled out of line letting another heavy cruiser take the lead. Her guns continued to fire as she fell back. The fire she was receiving slacked off so she turned back to engage.

The Abyssal battleship, which has already taken heavy damage, was hit by two torpedoes. It swung to port and started retreating.

"That battleship is retreating!"

"Good! Focus on the rest of the fleet that hasn't taken the hint!"

North Carolina fired one last salvo which destroyed one of the battleship's guns. With that last hit, she focused her attention on one of the many cruisers. While her main guns targeted a heavy cruiser her secondary guns targeted a light cruiser.

"Indiana, status?"

"I've been a hell of a lot better! Alright you Abyssal bastards! I've had it! DIE!"

Her rifles thundered sending nine 16 in shells screaming towards a heavy cruiser! Four of her shells tore into its amidships! The shells tore its engine rooms apart! Fire spews from its funnels as it slows to a halt. One of the light cruisers in their battle squadron finished it off.

"Hey! You stole my kill!"

"Should have been quicker Indiana!"

"Quicker!? How am I going to beat the reload of your 6 in guns!?"

"I don't know! That's something you're going to have to find out!"

"You're a real pain in the ass Columbia! You know that!?"

"I am well aware!"

Carolina smiled at their banter but it turned in a grimace as six HE shells slammed into her. "Alright, this is getting annoying."

She fired on the cruiser scoring multiple hits. The cruiser scored multiple hits while her main battery was reloading. Her 5 in guns hit back but could do little in terms of real damage. Her 16 in guns roared and a large explosion rocked the Abyssal! A second explosion followed seconds later and it heeled out of line.

"Oh no you don't."

Another salvo tore into the retreating cruiser. A third massive explosion rocked the Abyssal! Carolina saw pieces of what appeared to be a turret fly into the air. She switched targets knowing the Abyssal was no threat.

"Alright! Two on one isn't fair!"

Dewey constantly changed her course to avoid the rapid-fire of her targets. Her own guns scored hits rapidly and accurately but it didn't seem to affect her target. She hissed as two shells found their mark. Two more shells hit disabling one of her turrets. That was when a third destroyer joined in.

"Okay! This is bullshit!"

Four shells screamed over her head and slammed into one of the destroyers!

"I got you big sis!"

"Thanks Aylwin! Alright you bastards, the odds are even now!"

They focused their fire on the leading destroyer rapidly scoring hits. Soon, their target started to slow and list. It turned hard to port and deployed smoke. Dewey and Aylwin switched fire to the second destroyer.

Dewey cussed as she was hit again. The report from her DC teams wasn't terrible but it wasn't great either. "Aylwin! I'm falling back to you!"

"Copy!"

She turned hard to starboard and headed toward her sister. Maury had joined in and was engaging the third destroyer.

"Maury! Target the second destroyer!"

"Negative. You and Dewey have it covered."

Aylwin couldn't really argue with that. The second destroyer already had a few fires raging on deck. As if to prove Maury's point further her next salvo caused two small explosions which started another fire.

"Aylwin! This bastard is mine! Help Maury!"

"You sure!?"

"Positive!"

Aylwin nodded, not that Dewey could see it, and fired upon the third destroyer.

"Alright you bastard! It's just you and me!"

Dewey fired her guns as fast she could. She rapidly scored hits but was hit repeatedly in kind. Her torpedoes tubes were destroyed not that it mattered as she had already launched her torps. They slugged it out trying to outlast the other. There weren't any attempts made to dodge the incoming shells they just held their course.

The Abyssal destroyer began to falter. Dewey had knocked out two of its guns, it had numerous fires raging on-board, an increasing list to starboard and was losing speed. There was an explosion near the bridge and its guns fell silent. Dewey put another three salvos into it making sure it was sinking.

"Yeah! How'd you like that bitch!?"

She trained her guns on the third destroyer but there was no need; it was already going down by the stern.

"Tennessee, this is Renown please respond."

Static.

"California please respond."

"Little busy at the moment!"

She heard the sound of her rifles firing over the radio.

"I'm inbound with reinforcements. What is the strength of the enemy fleet?"

"Two battlecruisers, five heavy cruisers, one light cruiser, and nine destroyers!"

"Copy. ETA five mikes."

"Where the hell did this fleet come from?"

"Maybe it broke away from the main force?"

"I don't think so. None of the reports said anything about battlecruisers in the force."

"Maybe the Abyssals called for reinforcements and we just missed them."

"Maybe."

Renown was focused on the fight in front of them. The fire from the battle turned night into day. Fires and star shells illumined the ships. Her guns elevated and fired. The flashes lit up everything around her for a second before darkness enveloped them again. She waited as the shells flew towards the target.

"Splash. Shells landed short."

Renown adjusted accordingly and fired. "One hit. The shells mostly went long."

By now Augusta, Exeter and Houston were in range and engaging.

"California, we're engaging."

"I see the splashes. There is only one battlecruiser now as Ten just detonated one."

"Good to hear."

Renown's third salvo found the mark with four 381 mm shells slamming into the battlecruiser. Then eight 14 in shells, courtesy of California, slammed into its broadside. A massive gout of fire exploded out of its number three turret! Seconds later a colossal explosion blasted the turret hundreds of feet into the air! A second mighty explosion sent the number four turret flying with a gout of blue, red, and white fire following close behind! When the smoke finally cleared the stern of the battlecruiser was gone.

Renown shivered.

"Holy fucking shit! Did you see that!?"

"See it!? I think the fucking carriers saw it!"

"They're running!"

"Cowards! Renown can we peruse!?"

"North Carolina, status?"

"We have the Abyssal fleet on the run. The squadron has taken heavy damage so we are not perusing."

"Copy. Tennessee, California status?"

"We're damaged Renown but good to go!"

"We're chasing down that battlegroup."

"Ha! Good to know! We're chasing them also!"

Renown turned to her force, "Let's go!"

They gave chase at thirty-two knots. For half an hour they chased and sunk one heavy cruiser and one destroyer. Fog started to drift in but no one noticed it. Defender noticed it first but didn't bring attention to it. It wasn't until it got heavier that she said something about it.

"Hey! What's with the fog!?"

"No bloody idea!"

"Damn it rolled in fast and heavy! I can't see anything!"

"You don't need to see anything! Our radars will guide our shots!"

"Yeah, about that! My radar doesn't have any contacts!"

"What!?"

"Same here! It's like they disappeared."

"Same problem here!"

Soon, the entire task force reported the same problem; their radars had no contacts. With visibility reduced to less than a nautical mile Renown ordered a cease-fire and reduced speed to fifteen knots.

"Now what?"

"This has Abyssal written all over it. I suggest we leave this fog."

"Agreed."

The fleet reversed their course and the fog slowly lifted. They exit the fog and find Tennessee and California aiming their guns at them. Thankfully, they held their fire.

"Renown. Good see you unscathed. Thanks for the assist."

Behind them, the fog lifted as suddenly as it had come but there was no trace of the Abyssals.

Tennessee raised an eyebrow. "Well, that's a neat trick."

"Carolina this is Renown. Have you experienced unexpected heavy fog? Over."

"Negative. Why? Over."

"We just experienced that. When the fog cleared, the Abyssals were gone."

"Hmm. Interesting. We'll worry about that later. Let's make sure the Abyssals don't come back. Out."

"Rendezvous with the fleet," Renown ordered.