Chapter 4 Preparations
Key
"A character speaking."
'A character thinking.'
"So let me get this straight, two random people kidnapped you, had you fight another one of them in a cave, which you killed, had you grab a blue glowing cube that summoned a little girl that is in reality a battleship, who your using to contact me. Did I miss anything?" Roman confirmed to his companion in crime.
"No I believe you've summarized my day perfectly, now while your at it why don't you send over a bullhead to pick me up." Cinder rather impatiently replied.
'I wonder what this bullhead thing is, sounds like a luxury ship, maybe it's a whaling ship it certainly sounds like something you'd name a whaling ship.' Yamato thought to herself.
"What about the firecracker, after all that work you put in to get her."
"Why don't you just send someone with a sea chart, so she can sail to our base then find a place to hide this behemoth of a vessel?"
"I think you'll find that your in luck, because I just won the development rights to an abandoned dockyard further up the coast, and it's pretty out of the way."
"Why were you trying to get development rights to a dockyard?"
"Because I was playing poker with an old friend of mine, who may or may not have been drunk and bet the rights of some dockyard he inherited from his father. Who owned it after the great war and sunk millions into it expecting to get rich with all the carrier ship rights and orders going on. Only for every nation except Atlas to scrap all navel forces larger than a destroyer, which could be built in Vale proper for much cheaper."
"Are you sure no one visits the facility, because we could use it as a backup base in case our warehouse gets discovered."
"Well I was going to bet it for coodrinates for three entire shipments of Atlesian tech, but I guess I could have the White Fang search through it, assuming Grumpy doesn't go and throw a tantrum over me bossing around the White fang again."
"You don't have to worry about Adam he's still busy trying to collect all the materials for the Mount Glenn operation, which thanks to him destroying two shipments is severely behind schedule."
"Well I guess that settles that, or at least until I pick you up anyway chow "boss"." Finished the professional criminal before hanging up.
"Well they hopefully shouldn't be that long, unless Roman is going to wait for the dockyard to be inspected first, which given how he thought that it could hold this thing it could take a while."
"So why don't you show me where the officer suites are on this thing." She "kindly" ordered
'I'm used to being called a hotel but this is getting a little ridiculous.' Yamato thought, while carrying down some bowls of food from Cinder's current room.
Though only for a brief second seeing as how Cinder was her superior in age, (from Yamato's guess somewhere in her late twenties, to early thirties) and she was also giving her a new home. She did have a nagging question at the back of her head though. Who summoned the ship before Cinder did, and what was the ship British, German, French, Italian? Though if the other ship was an American ship then she could get payback for what they did to her little sisters Musashi, and Shinano. But at the same time the thought of facing another carrier, after what happened to her last time made her terrified at the notion.
Anyhow, she finally reached the kitchen to clean the empty bowls, when she realized that these people went straight from first generation dreadnoughts to carriers almost immediately.
'How they seemed to accomplish this escapes me, but it's terrifying to think of how advanced this Atlas's carrier arm must be.'
She assumed they were refering to the first world war, but she didn't know of any nation that used carriers as heavily as the Japanese and the United States. The later of whom only started focusing on carriers after Pearl Harbor, and she knew that after being the receiving end of their carriers.
'What kinda explosives could they have used to make larger and larger bombs for carrior based aircraft, or maybe their planes are more fuel efficient, well whatever it is it made battleship development stagnate and die, something just doesn't add up here.'
Yamato contemplated this while cleaning the bowls and putting them up, then she felt something ping on her radar.
"Huh guess thats them, I better let Cinder know." She correctly guessed.
'This will either end very badly or be a non issue, though if I had to guess it'll probably be the former once she sees it.' Cinder realized after thinking about how much the girl seemed to fear planes.
They were currently walking up some stairs, when this realization hit her, she knew and she needed to resolve it. She needed to ask Yamato why she feared aircraft so much, to possibly get a better understanding of how to manipulate this girl to do exactly what she says.
"So Yamato, why do you seem so afraid of aircraft I don't see how a "mighty" vessel such as you would fear something as insignificant as a plane?"
"Well um I'm afraid of them so much because of what they did to my sister and me."
"Oh and what is that, I just now wish to know what hapened so you wont be afraid of them anymore" She half lied
"It started in October 1944, when I lost my little sister Musashi who sacrificed herself to save the rest of the fleet, all I could do was watch while she was constantly being attacked by the swarms of planes, then she eventually sunk beneath the waves."
"Finally I myself died during operation Ten Go, where I was almost the sole target for what had to be over four hundred aircraft."
'Well it'll definitely be the first one without a doubt, though now that I know this I could convince her that if she helps me she'll be able to reunite with her sisters.'
She was preparing for the worst when she reached the door, now clearly being able to hear the engines of the bullhead. However Yamato only had the look of confusion on her face.
"Hey uh, what's that loud noise coming form outside the door?"
"It sounds like one of the prototype jet engines the army were equipping to their fighters, wait the bullhead wouldn't happen to be a jet would it."
'Well too late to turn back now.' She thought while opening the door.
Cinder could not have predicted the events that transpired, because instead of cowering in fear like she assumed she would, Yamato began laughing her ass off.
"I can't believe it the idiots in the army could barely make a jet that could fly yet here's one that can land vertically, Hahahahahahaha (I'm so screwed)." Yamato chuckled the last part under her breath.
"Your taking this quite well for someone with a fear of planes."
"Well I'm not as scared of a plane, or is it a jet, anyway that's not going to shoot me."
'Well at least I know that if she goes into Vale she wont level the entire city is she sees one of it's famous blimp rides.'
Yamato also turned on her spotlights so that they could more easily talk to each other.
"Well if it isn't one of my favorite business partner, I hope the wait wasn't too agonizing for you." A man in a white suit classily announce from the bullhead.
"I hope you have good news about the new backup base, if you decided to come here yourself."
"Right to the point as usual, well I have good news and bad news."
"The good news is that the base is still mostly operational, the bad news is that the larger drydocks seem to require repair and the removal of dirt before we can think about fitting this ship in."
"Well that doesn't sound bad, for now the Yamato can just sit outside of the dock in the water while we repair it." She responded while looking at Yamato to make sure there were no objections.
"How far away from this island is the drydock sir?" Yamato politely asked.
"Oh well that depends on how fast you can go firecracker, for this thing its about half an hour."
"Well I have a top speed of 27knots, and a cruising speed of 24knots."
She heard someone inside of the bullhead whistle upon hearing that, she had to guess they were impressed that something of her size could move at that speed.
"Well if you go at your top speed it'll take about 2 and a half hours, however since there's no rush you can just go at your cruising speed which is 3 hours."
With that clarified Yamato now needed to ask what Sea charts they had brought.
"Hey could you hand me the sea charts so I can leave on this little journey by myself."
"I hope you don't mind if I suggest you at least take one White Fang member with you." Cinder inquired.
"I do not mind so long as they don't leave my sight."
"That wont be a problem my young "friend", now if anyone doesn't mind how about we hurry things up and leave already I just know Neo will find her stash of ice-cream I keep hidden so she wont eat it all and get brain freezes." Roman yelled with a hint of sarcasm.
"Well then I hope to see you at the base." Yamato called to Cinder
"Oh don't worry you will." She responded with some contempt in her voice.
Meanwhile with Neo
'Good thing Roman always hides his expensive cigars and the fridge right next to each other, if he didn't then I might've had trouble finding this.'
After their brief exchange Cinder walked onto the bullhead, while the "White Fang" member hopped onto the ship. Yamato saw them fly off wondering if this little nighttime journey would be fun or not. Meanwhile the White Fang member was completely insulted that he had to babysit what looked like a rich snot nose human.
"Why would they send me to look after some rich human's kid that's probably just going to be a hinderance to Adams operation." He grumbled to himself.
"Hey kid where's the navigation room." He yelled at her to get her attention.
However she completely ignored him which only served to piss him off more.
"I said where's the navigation room you brat."
"I heard you the first time, I just was trying to think of what the best speed I should set the ship to, so I can have a more pleasant trip."
Why that little, alright this kid was getting on his nerves. But he did have to admit that this ship was pretty impressive, and it was fast for it's size.
"27 knots that's faster than any container ship ever built that's for sure." He muttered to himself.
"Huh that's good to know incase I ever go commerce raiding, I guess."
"What do you mean if you go commerce raiding aren't you just the ship builders daughter or something, why would Cinder and Roman allow you to command this ship in combat?"
Though now that he mentioned it the ship was a little freaky, what with no crew members that he could spot. Unless this ship was automated, but then why would you put so many obviously maned anti aircraft gun mounts if you were just going to automate them.
"Wait didn't they tell you guy's anything."
"No all they told us was that we were going to pick up that Cinder lady, while dropping off a sea chart onto a giant warship you little brat." He angrily shouted at her.
"Well I guess I better tell you then, I'm the ship your currently standing on." She corrected herself.
"Ha like I'd believe that for a second human, as if you co-." He was interrupted when he saw some of the AA guns move individually pointing towards his general direction.
"So what they're just automated mounts that doesn't prove your point."
Then he saw the larger mounts on the side start to move and aim towards the ocean, along with the "smaller" turrets above the main guns. All the while the little girl wasn't even moving a muscle.
'So either her semblance is telepathy to talk to the crew inside the bridge or she's telling the truth.'
"How do I know your not just telling the crew to aim in that direction with your semblance, hm."
"What's a semblance, is it some kind of device or piece of equipment that you put on a ship." Yamato genuinely inquired.
'How does this idiot really not know what a semblance is?'
"A semblance is a manifestation of someone's soul that gives them a completely unique ability, like my semblance for example can turn what ever I'm holding in my hands on fire like my sword or a gun."
"Would that mean that I am my own semblance, huh now that's an odd thought." the girl mused to him.
"Also why do you keep on calling me human, aren't you, Cinder the same species?"
"What no, I'm a faunas and she's a human, how do you not recognize the the White Fang symbol, that should've been a dead give away."
"What's a-."
"A faunas is someone with animal traits that humans don't posses such as cat ears, lizard tails, or even feathers instead of hair."
"Wow that's so cool, what's your animal trait."
"Mine, well my trait is that my eye's are the same as a peregrine falcon"
Why was he telling her all of this she would soon be dropped back off on this island if she was lucky, and if not then this would definitely be her last trip thats for sure.
"Hey, um what's your name anyway?"
"Why would I tell you my name, your not exaclty going to be sticking around, plus I don't like you."
"Whelp I guess we better go to the bridge then no name so we can start moving." She told him while walking back into the ship.
"I'm going to have to deal with this for three hours, just great." He muttered to himself.
Once on the bridge no name noticed there was nobody here either.
"Hey were is everyone still waiting on the island for an all aboard call or somthing?"
"How many times do I have to tell you that I'm the ship your standing on."
Instead of responding to her, he set out the map so he could begin charting their course. This only served to annoy Yamato since she didn't particularly enjoy being ignored, which only served to get a smile on no names lips.
"Excuse could I please see those so I can plot the course myself." she constantly asked him while he was plotting the course.
"You know what since a fifteen year old clearly knows how to plot a course for a ship over an experienced navigator who used to be the navigations officer of several cargo ships, why not."
He stomped away from the chart to watch and see if this kid could truly plot a safe course or not. Yamato was quickly realized while reading the chart two things, firstly she was have some trouble reading the english on the chart, and secondly this chart while detailed looked completely different from all of her sea charts.
"Excuse me but there's something wrong with your chart."
"How is there something wrong with my chart it's literally the most up to date sea chart of the vale area."
"Well I don't recognize any of the landmarks on this chart, if fact I'll show you what I mean." She told him while getting out all of the charts on the bridge.
"I have more in the navigation officers room but these are what I have on the bridge, as you can see they don't match any of them."
She was right however he had never seen any landmasses remotely like these.
"These charts don't look anything like any of the other sea charts I have ever seen before in my life, in fact the geography is completely different to any known landmasses on Remnant.
"Wait remnant don't you mean Earth."
"What do you mean Earth, the names always been remnant."
'If the name of the planet is remnant then that must mean.'
"Oh my gods I'm on another planet, that's so cool."
'Oh great now she thinks she's from another planet despite the fact that these charts are fabrications and nothing more.'
"Anyway now that I know all of that could you help steer me sir."
"You still think... You know what fine I'll help "steer" you towards the drydock."
With all of that settled the massive warship departed towards the main land of vale.
2 Hours Later
It started to get stormy so No Name and Yamato decided to just stay in the bridge and started talking for an hour about the Yamato, though mainly it was just No Name inquiring about the specifications of the vessel. Somehow it changed to Yamato's own past...
"So let me get this straight, your saying that you had two younger sisters."
"No I have one sister and one half sister, Mussashi was built the same as me, while Shinano underwent the single worst aircraft carrier conversion process I have ever heard of."
"Anyway so you lost both of them within about a month of each other then you were sent on a suicide mission, because the navy that built you wanted to look good on paper in front of your emperor."
"Yah that pretty much sums up the last few months of my life."
'Either she's a liar or she's really telling the truth and if so, I feal bad for this kid.'
"I know plenty of adults who would have been broken and have given up after losing just one sibling let alone two in the span of one month." He began.
"I can't imagine how it must have felt to watch your sister die in front of you, then to be told you also loss your half sister."
"Oh it's okay I kn-. Wait I'm picking up a small vessel with my radar seem's about the size of a destroyer, and it's rapidly approaching us."
"The hell's radar?"
"I'll explain later, please just focus on steering the ship while I see if our "friend" is anything to worry about."
No Name continued to steer the ship in the direction of the main land of Vale. Yamato meanwhile operated the spotlights to attempt to spot the other object in the violent storm with no luck of finding it yet until, she felt somthing crash into the starboard side of the ship. Unsurprisingly it did little damage to the warship, thanks in no small part because it hit the main belt.
"What the, what the hell is that thing a dragon." She shouted while looking down at the creature that rammed into the ship.
The creature was illuminated by the spotlights while it held onto some anti aircraft turrets, however once it spotted Yamato it roared and started climbing the turrets to reach her. In response to the creature's obvious intentions Yamato had the 25mm AA guns open fire on the creature. They did very little damage and clearly just nettled the dragon.
'Hm the 25mm's clearly aren't working how about the 127mm guns?' she pondered.
Now she stopped the 25mm's and started having the 127mm guns fire upon it, which initially were doing a great job against it, however they soon couldn't fire upon the single minded beast.
'Well since the 25mm and 127mm clearly didn't work I think I know what just might, the only problem is that I have to reach there before that dragon reaches me.'
To fulfill her plan Yamato jumped onto the weather deck that was slippery form all of the waves striking the ship. The dragon simply started climbing down the column of guns just now making sure not to be within range of the 127mm guns. Yamato the proceeded to the next phase of her ingenious plan by jumping onto the superimposed 460mm turret than sat down and waited for the creature to follow. Sure enough it started climbing up the 460mm turrets until it's eyes were perfectly level with hers, she let it feel as if it had won this little chase. Then it attempted to strike her but instead of chomping onto the little girl she simply rolled out of the way and had the 155mm turret shoot directly into it's throat destroying it's head instantly.
"So what was it that you found I heard gun fire?"
"Ahem, WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THERE WERE FREAKING DRAGONS HERE."
"Wait you fought a dragon Grimm how did you, wait that's a stupid question but how big was it." He inquired before remembering he was on a floating weapons platform.
"About as big as a single one of my main gun turrets, why how big do they get?"
"If I had to guess about half the weight of this ship but twice the length."
"Wow that's so cool, there are things larger than me out there." Yamato said starry eyed.
"Well anyway I think since were so close to base I should tell you my name it's Bob Anchor."
"Nice to meet ya Bob Anchor I'm Yamato were are ya from?
"Vacuo, and before you ask don't worry I'll explain it latter."
"Oh what great timing and here I was worried they would be here after Mercury and Emerald got back here." Cinder told herself when she spotted the Yamato pulling into drydock.
The mighty warship neatly docked next to some small boats they managed to steal to use as patrol craft. She then saw Yamato jump off of the ship and begin to search around the ship, so Cinder decided to it would be better to stop her search because she needed to explain the new plan she had thought of with Roman.
"Hello there Yamato it's nice to see you again I hope you aren't exhausted because I need you to do a mission for me then you can explore the base." She asked in a condescending voice.
"Oh okay I'm not tiered at all so I'm ready whenever you tell me." She eccentrically responded.
"Well I need Roman to explain it to you then you can depart, and I believe he's in the large building in the middle."
"Okay I'll go do that then lady Cinder."
"How many times have I told her not to eat the ice cream, I swear it's like talking to a wall you know what I mean?" Roman asked a White Fang grunt who was standing guard.
'He has been asking me, basically the same question for the past hour, I swear if that Yamato person doesn't show up soon I going to kill him.'
Before he could respond for the fifteenth time a young teen who looked to be about 4'9" entered the room.
"Well if it isn't the mighty firecracker herself you certainly took your sweat time."
"Well I-." she attempted to answer but was rudely interrupted by Roman.
"Doesn't matter, what does is what you can do for me."
"What's that sir."
"Do you remember when I told Cinder about the coordinates for those shipments from Atlas."
"Yes I do remem-." she tried to answer but was interrupted yet again by him.
"Great, anyway borrowed the guy's scroll and found their route as well as the best place to intercept them, which is where they'll have the least amount of aircover and be exposed in the ocean."
"Wow so what's the plan?" she earnestly asked him.
"The plan is to sail you here." he re-laid while pointing at the map.
"Then we wait for eleven hours until they show up, I order them to give up or be sunk, we take what supplies we can fit and book it before they call for any backup."
"So any questions or other ideas?"
"Well I could empty the hanger behind my aft turret so we could fit more stuff in, would that help?"
"I don't see why not."
"Well then it seems like I'm finally going to succeed at something that isn't a suicide mission." She muttered to herself while ordering the aircraft in her hanger to be emptied out and set on the ground using her built in crane.
And that was Chapter 4 I hope everyone enjoyed this because I wanted to make an extra long chapter (though they only seem to be getting longer every chapter) to say thank you to everyone who has reviewed, followed, and even favorited. I hope I've improved and not exacerbated any of the problems I made in previous chapters.
(P.S. this is my first fan fiction so any and all criticism is welcomed)
(P.P.S. Yamato's design is inspired off of the uniform Emperor Hirohito is most commonly seen in pictures wearing.)