Limping Home…
"Maron, you can put the engines to stop" Mashiro called out.
"What's wrong with the telegraph?" called up the Chief Engineer.
"Its jammed – we've got stuck against the Musashi's starboard side, so we're not going anywhere for a while"
"Okay… If nothing is happening, I need all spare personnel to help with the flooding and damage control"
"I'll put out a call" Mashiro promised. "Do you want me to put in a call to the other ships for help?"
"My pride says I shouldn't ask, but I think we're going to need more people to plug the hull damage" Maron said. Mashiro could hear the massive damage to her pride, and she tried not to think any badly of her for it.
"Anybody who wants to help, you may leave and do so…" Mashiro told the Bridge crew. The lookouts both left as did Tama and Rei which left herself, Rin and Kouko behind.
"Dep… Deputy Captain?" Kouko stuck her head around the corner where the navigation room was as well as indicator boards for damage to the ship. "You might want to take a look at this" and Mashiro walked around to see – instantly wishing she hadn't. Nearly every light was a solid red and the girl couldn't help but wonder how the ship was even together still.
"She really does have all the luck" she muttered under her breath.
"Bridge, Radio Room – I have the communications working" and Mashiro looked at the board before picking up the handset on the bulkhead.
"Ask the other ships for as much help as they can give us… Tell them we are taking on water and are slowly sinking" she ordered.
"Aye"
"Bridge, Engine Room" Maron called up the speaking tube.
"Yes?"
"I've just had damage reports from all departments… So long as we can get more pumps to keep the levels down, we won't sink on a tow"
"Very well…" Mashiro stopped talking as something came to her mind. "Maron-San, given all of the damage, what is our best speed?"
"Five knots? Maybe seven if we're lucky"
"Do what you can, please! I'd rather be slow, late but coming in under power then to be towed home"
"Assuming her back holds out… Its so flooded on the lower decks that I can't get a clear check. Damage control might have to be limited to keeping the furnaces dry"
"Bridge, Radio Room. Hiel reports she's sending her damage control parties and asks if she should come along side"
"Please ask them to do so – at least their pumps might help us" Mashiro said. After passing on the news to Maron, she returned to front part of the Bridge where the rest of the ships in the fleet were getting closer to the joined Musashi and Harekaze.
"I hope the crew of the Musashi can be saved" Rin said from her place at the wheel.
"Of course they can" Mashiro smiled. "Minami-San is a brilliant Doctor after all"
"Deputy Captain, do you think we will stay together after this?"
"What do you mean?" Mashiro asked.
"Well the ship will need a lot of repairs – we might be split up" Kouko said.
"Well… I'd not thought about that, to be honest" admitted the other girl. "I guess its what the school decides" and whatever she would have said next was cut off by an almighty shudder and the ship started to slide off the Musashi's starboard side with a tearing and groaning noise.
"Bridge, Engine Room"
"Yes?"
"Hime says the forward stores rooms are flooding heavily"
"Can you do anything about it?"
"I'm not sure, but I don't think so…" Maron said quietly.
"Even if you just close all the hatches?"
"Might give us an hour or two"
"Right… Let me get in touch with the other ships – we might need to be towed in after all. For now, block off as much of the forward part as you can. I will tell the captain"
"Tell me what, Shiro?" the sound of the Captain made Mashiro turned round to see her braced against the port Bridge windows.
"Captain!" Mashiro cried out happily. "The ship has been badly holed and we're taking on water. Maron thinks that we might end up having to be towed home to the school"
"What about the other ships?"
"Some of them are giving us aid"
"Boat approaching from the starboard side" Tama said simply.
"Have them come aboard at once and have them help in repairs" Misaki said.
"Should we have some of the crew taken off in case we need to abandon?" Mashiro asked.
"Have the crew that isn't essential go to the starboard side and prepare to evacuate" Misaki said. "I don't want people to be hurt if it means we have to abandon…"
"Captain?" Maron was stood with tears in her eyes – her clothes caked in fifth.
"Maron, why are you not in the Engine Room?" asked Mashiro.
"She's gone"
"Who has?" asked Misaki.
"The ship… There is a large crack from the port side to the starboard – I think her back is broken" and Rin gasped at the words from the Chief Engineer.
"No… Please say it isn't so"
"It is, Rin-Chan. Captain, we might be able to get home if we lightened the ship as much as possible and only had the essential persons onboard. I can give you four hours – six if we're careful before the breaking is complete"
"Shall I have the order passed to abandon ship?" Mashiro asked, gently putting a hand on the Captain's shoulder.
"Yes… Have everybody not in damage control or the Engineering sections get their items and be ready to abandon ship. Have department heads form chains to get stuff up and onto the other ships"
#
"Captain, the crew has evacuated to the rest of the ships, almost all of the stores are offloaded and we have just enough fuel to get us into port" Mashiro stood at attention as Misaki came up to the Bridge.
"Right… I just wish we could have saved the Harekaze"
"You might" Maron said. "Tenjin had some sounding equipment onboard – they say the cracks are on the internal hull only and not the more dangerous outer hull. If we keep it as steady as possible, we'll make it home safely and have a ship to repair"
"You mean it?" Misaki could have hugged her.
"Of course. However, we're down to one screw as the other was badly damaged"
"What can we do?"
"Normally I would be alright with about seven knots, but I'll get you three quarters on the one screw if nessesary "
"Maron-Chan, you do know they might scrap the ship" Misaki said gently.
"I know, Captain, but if they do then I want it going doing on record as them having scrapped a service worthy ship"
"Thank you, Maron-San… Please do your best to get us home"
"The heart and the brain must work as one" a quiet voice from the starboard entryway had them all look over to see their Doctor.
"Don't you want to go aboard the other ships?" asked Mashiro. Minami looked out at the nearly still water lapping against the side of the ship.
"I am not yet done sailing the Harekaze" she replied. "I know that I do not spend a lot of time with the rest of the crew, but this is not just my friends but my family… I want to stay with her for as long as possible"
"Well Rin has been on the wheel for far longer then is proper… Would you like to try the wheel?" asked Misaki.
"Do you mean it?" the Doctor's eyes lit up with a joy and a huge smile graced her features. It made the rest of them feel warm inside as they'd never seen her so emotional before. She quickly crossed over to the wheel where Rin explained what the gauges meant and how to do the wheel correctly.
"Please do not think me rude, but why do you stay in Sickbay most of the time?" Mashiro asked.
"I…" Minami looked briefly down in embarrassment. "I was pushed by my parents to learn as much as possible in the field of medicine so I would bring much honour to them. I never had time for friends, so I apologise if I have been rude towards you, Captain"
"You have not – its not your fault about all of that" Misaki replied. "Now that we're your friends, we'll get you lots of fun times and memories"
"Thank you"
"Bridge, Engine Room – ready to ring on engines" Maron had clearly left quietly to go to the Engine Room.
"You can start, Maron-Chan" Misaki said. A few moments later, the ship hummed loudly and started to limp her way home to a safe port. As she passed the Spee, the girls on the Bridge could see her crew lining the side and cheering the ship on – and they returned the salute before getting down to the business of bringing their ship safely back to the school.
#
It took a little longer than expected, partly because they had to stop for half an hour to allow a part to be replaced, but the Harekaze crept into harbour which seemed filled with boats from a number of schools and with people stood on the dockside.
"Minami-San, I must ask you to let Rin take over" Misaki said as the ship drunkenly lurched to one side before straightening out again.
"I did not mean for that to happen, Captain" Minami smiled as she stepped out and away from the wheel as Rin took it over.
"Slow ahead – steer 330"
"Slow ahead – steer 330" Rin repeated the order from Misaki. Skilfully, she guided the destroyer to the side of the dock and set the rudder to midships – without the aid of any assisting tugs. "Permission to finish with the wheel?" she asked.
"You may finish with the wheel" Misaki said.
"Engine Room, Bridge"
"This is Maron"
"We've docked at last… You may shut the engines down" Mashiro said.
"No need because we just ran out of fuel"
"Captain, the Principal just came onboard" Mei pointed to the bow of the ship where a gangplank had been set up. Misaki panicked for a moment before taking deep breaths and dusting off her Captain's hat as the Principal came onto the Bridge. The entire class stood to attention as Misaki saluted.
"Good Evening, Captain Akeno… May I ask what has happened to the Harekaze…?"