A/N: Published December 7, 2020.

-14-

Up She Rises!

"Well," Nevada said as she looked from a perched position on a rock. "This is a fine mess you got yourselves into."

The 'mess' was her fellow standard battleships had got themselves stuck in the mud on the beach. There was a pickup truck that was liberated from its truck bed which had a length of chain attached to it.

"Don't be like that," California said waist-deep in mud with her arms crossed, a smile on her face, and the other end of the chain in hand. "You jumped in with the rest of us!"

"Yes, it was fun, but at least I got out before digging myself deeper without being able to get out."

"Same can't be said about Okie," West Virginia said, stuck up to her thighs.

Tennessee, who was nearby gingerly tested the ground with her foot before committing to a step. As for Oklahoma, she was buried up to her waist – upside down. Maryland wrestled with Oklahoma's kicking legs in an attempt to pull her up.

"A little help, Pennsy?" West Virginia asked.

"I'm good. Arizona's out already, and Tenny's almost out. She can help you," Pennsylvania said from her sun chair, raising her voice loud enough to be heard over destroyers Cassin and Downes who gleefully buried themselves up to their necks in the sand behind Pennsylvania.

Arizona sat before Vestal. The repair ship placed two bandages to make the shape of an 'X' on the battleship's forehead. Nevada helped Tennessee reach solid ground and Vestal requested to examine them both for any potential injuries. Meanwhile destroyers Monaghan and Shaw were locked in combat. Using sticks as swords, they weaved between the battleships, flirting with the edge of the mud. Shaw's left jacket sleeve was empty but her left hand could be seen sticking out the bottom of her jacket.

"Now stand aside, worthy adversary," Monaghan declared with an overacted voice.

"Tis but a scratch," Shaw said.

"A scratch? Your arm's off!" the Farragut said.

"I've had worse," the Mahan shrugged. "Have at you!"

The sticks clonked against each other.

"Hey, Helena, Raleigh!" California shouted at the two light cruisers from her chest-deep position in the mud. A mobile crane accompanied the cruisers. "About time!"

"We were told to tell you to watch where you step next time," Helena said.

"Will do," West Virginia answered from her waist-deep spot.

"Hey," Pennsylvania said to the cruisers in a low voice. "We should probably get the destroyers out of here."

Helena and Raleigh followed Pennsylvania's gaze towards Monaghan and Shaw who were looking at the crane with considerable interest.

"All right," Raleigh said loudly and conspicuously. "Who wants ice cream?"

"Ice cream!" the destroyers roared. Monaghan and Shaw dropped their sticks and started circling the light cruisers. Cassin and Downes jumped up just enough to expose their shoulders from the sand. They struggled to get out until Raleigh plucked them out of the sand and carried them under her arms. Cassin and Downes kicked their limbs excitedly as they shouted the flavors they wanted to get.

"I want some!" Arizona said as she jumped to her feet but soon landed back in the sand with stars in her eyes.

"Careful now," Pennsylvania said as she helped her sister up.

"I'll catch up," a muddy Tennessee said. She went around the mud and jumped into the surf.

As the ice cream group left, the mobile crane positioned and readied itself. The arm stopped over Maryland and lowered its hook. She grabbed onto the hook and Oklahoma's ankle and both were lifted out. Oklahoma's expression could best be described as embarrassed enough to super heat and dry the mud so it would have to be chipped away with a chisel.

"If it's not too much trouble, can you get me next?" California requested, now neck deep in the mud.

A/N: Although the tone of this chapter is sillier than usual, it is meant to be tributed to the salvage planners and workers.

The salvage operation is a rarely talked about portion of the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor. It is miraculous, nearly magical that most of the ships damaged and/or sunk were raised, repaired, and modernized to fight another day. Especially for ships like Shaw, Cassin, and Downes which were basically rebuilt entirely.

I highly recommend Drachinifel's 'short' three-part summary of the salvage operations.