Admiral's log, current date is October 27, 2015

At the beginning of the week, Rear Admiral Smith arrived at the base for more effective command of his fleet.

The Abyssals have started attacking again. There have been two engagements this week with small Abyssal taskforces. It's nothing the fleets can't handle but this may be a prelude to a larger battle.

With New Zeeland secure I've authorized my submarines to begin raiding in Indonesia and the Philippines; they will be more useful raiding than patrolling the waters around New Zeeland.

The sound of an alarm drew his attention to a clock. He turned it off and stood up. "Time to meet with Rear Admiral Smith."

He left his office and headed to the small conference room where they would meet. He arrived at the conference room and opened the door. Smith wasn't in so he took a seat and lit up a cigarette. He had just taken his first puff when Smith walked in. He nodded, "Hayes."

"Smith."

He blew smoke as Smith sat down.

"I've received the launching date for Operation Ace, the liberation of Australia, November tenth at 8:00 AM."

Hayes nodded and took a drag on his cigarette. Smith continued. "I suggest we start recon flights over Australia and mark important targets. We'll start hitting these targets on November ninth."

Hayes looked away and exhaled the smoke. He turned back, "Any reinforcements?"

"Not for our fleets. Command expects three more convoys to arrive before the launch date."

"What about diversion attacks?"

"There's an invasion force heading for Wake Island to capture it. The Mariana Islands are planned to be attacked two days before Operation Ace. Papua New Guiana and the Philippines are both going to be hit two days before the invasion."

"Let's hope those attacks distract the Abyssals from Australia. Either way, it's going to be a grueling battle."

"It will, but I know our men and woman will see it through."

Hayes nodded in agreement and Smith moved on to the next topic they needed to discuss.

"We should be defending our homeland not helping in the invasion of Australia."

"I am aware of your frustrations sister. Unfortunately, we have our orders. Have a little faith in the British and German navies."

Java looked at her sister, "Faith? The Germans have invaded our country twice and the British failed to stop them twice. Forgive me if I have little faith in them."

Sumatra sympathized with her sister's worries. She worried for her home just as much but there was little they could do about it. A fact they both had trouble accepting but she has obviously accepted it easier than her sister has.

She looked up to the clear blue sky and seemed to take strength in it. "Come on."

"Hmm?"

"Tennessee and California finished their refits and are going on a shakedown cruise. I, for one, would like to sortie."

Java thought for a second, "You can go. I'm going to stay here."

"Alright."

She heard her sister's footsteps quieten and soon the wind was all she could hear. She looked at the sky and closed her eyes hoping to draw strength from it like her sister seemed to do.

Sumatra reached the docks and found Tennessee and California already there. With them are Richmond, Exeter, Tuscaloosa, Renown, Dewey, Aylwin, Case, Daring, and Defender. Exeter nodded to her and she slowly walked over to her.

"Sumatra. It's good to see you."

"Yo! Sumatra!"

She nodded, "Exeter, Tuscaloosa."

"Decided to join us on this expedition did ya?"

"Yes."

"Is this everybody?"

"I think so."

"Alright, let's get this show on the road."

They stepped off and headed out to the ocean. They set their speed for twenty knots and followed the course plotted by Tennessee.

Ten hours later, and two hundred nautical miles off New Zeeland's coast, they started their exercises.

This was Tennessee's and California's second refit. Their first refit had upgraded their fourteen-inch guns giving them longer range and higher muzzle velocity. Their superstructure was slightly changed and 1.1 in cannons and 20 mm Oerlikons replaced their fifty cal machine guns. Their second refit replaced their 1.1 in cannons with 40 mm Bofors, reinforced their underwater protection, completely revised their superstructure, added radars, and, to their amazement, increased their top speed from 21 knots to 23.5 knots. They were still exceeding slow but they didn't really care considering they never thought their top speed could be altered. While Tennessee and California started their speed trials the rest of the fleet started gunnery practice. Numerous targets, both air, and sea, were here when they arrived.

Tuscaloosa's guns thundered sending nine 8 in shells towards her target. They slammed into the target heavily damaging it but not sinking it. That surprised her. Practice targets are destroyed when hit with two or three shells so seven hits should have obliterated the target. A bit pissed off she fired again scoring eight hits but it still wasn't destroyed.

"Alright! This is pissing me off!"

"Wh-

BOOM!

"This damn target is indestructible!"

"That's the point!"

"...What?"

"There porotypes from the States sent here for testing. They're supposed to be indestructible. Our job is to put that to the test! KEEP FIRING!"

"HELL YEAH!"

Exeter laughed but it was lost to the storm of fire. Sumatra smiled a bit before her face shifted back to a neutral expression.

"Hey! Sumatra! How about a little competition!"

She looked to Richmond with a curious expression. "What kind of competition?"

"Whoever scores the most hits in one-minute wins."

She thought about it for a second, "I agree to this competition."

"Yes! Alright on go. Three, two, one, GO!"

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!

Their guns roared and the competition began in earnest. Sumatra zeroed in on her target and focused on accuracy and fire rate. She was still semi-aware of those around her. Shell after shell after shell slammed into their targets at a rapid rate. Something broke on Richmond's target causing it to jerk suddenly. She still hit it but there was a small explosion and it was gone. Sumatra didn't notice so she kept on firing.

"Huh. Does that mean I won or lost? Hey! Tennessee!"

"Yeah!?"

"My target just below up after sustained 6 in gunfire!"

"I'll write it down!"

Richmond didn't tell Sumatra to stop. Instead, she waited until the remaining twenty seconds were up. With one final salvo, Sumatra's guns fell silent. Her target was battered but still afloat. She looked to Richmond, "Who won?"

"Well, I sunk my target," she said with a smile. "As much as I would love to take the win I can't. The competition goes to you, Sumatra."

She heard the disappointment in Richmond's voice at the outcome. She didn't feel much accomplishment in her victory either. Her opponent had lost a third of her time due to her target sinking, she could not and would not take this victory.

"No."

"No?"

"I will not take the victory. Your target sank giving me an unfair advantage. So no, I will not take this victory."

"Well, didn't expect that. Alright Sumatra, let's run it again."

While Richmond and Sumatra readied themselves for another competition Tennessee and her sister were in a competition themselves. They had pulled slightly ahead since they were running at flank speed while the rest of the fleet was cruising at twenty knots. Unlike Richmond's and Sumatra's competition, their competition called for all of their targets, both air, and sea, to be destroyed in the shortest amount of time.

Each of their main battery turrets is targeting a separate target. Tennessee's secondary battery is engaging surface targets while California has split her secondaries between surface and air targets.

"So, who do you think is going to win?"

"My money's on California."

"Wait, money? Are we betting?"

"No."

"Aw man."

Aylwin rolled her eyes, "What is it with you and betting lately?"

Dewey shrugged, "I haven't actually gotten involved in a bet."

Aylwin looked at her sister confused but didn't say anything.

"Hey! What are you two doing?"

They looked off their port side and saw Case approaching them.

"Watching Tennessee's and California's competition. You?"

"Just finished destroying my last targets. Guess I'll watch their competition with you."

"The more the merrier."

Aylwin looked back to the cruisers, "Looks like Richmond and Sumatra are still going at it."

"Really? I could've sworn theirs was over."

"Maybe they're having a rematch."

"Probably."

They turned their attention back to Tennessee and California who's competition was ramping up. Tennessee had destroyed most of her surface targets and was mauling her air targets. California had destroyed her air targets and was mauling her surface targets.

"This is close."

"Yeah it is. Case, who do you think will win?"

Case thought for a few seconds, "Aylwin, who's your pick?"

"California."

"So Dewey picked Tennessee. Hmm, I'm... California."

Both Aylwin and Dewey nodded, "May the best battleship win."

They watched the battle between Tennessee and California progress. Tennessee has destroyed all of her surface targets and only a few air targets remained. The same was true for California but it's reversed.

"This is coming down to the wire!"

"Come on Cali!"

"Go for it Tennessee!"

With a single surface target remaining, California fired a full broadside and obliterated the target!

"Time Time!"

They both shouted as one and looked at each other.

"I won!"

"No! I won!"

The destroyers watched the sister's argument, "I didn't know they were this competitive."

"Oh, they can be very competitive."

"Hey! You saw me win right!?"

"No, they saw me win!"

They looked to each other silently debating if they should say who won. After a few seconds, Aylwin answered. "California won."

"YES!"

"Son of a bitch!"

"That's right sis! I'm leading now!"

Tennessee growled, "We'll see for how long. Form up! We're RTB!"