A/N: Published August 3, 2021.

Battle of Athens

A lone destroyer leader sat at a table off to the side in the eatery. Thin strips of beef and a small pile of onions and mushrooms sat on the plate in front of her. When the food reached her mouth, she nibbled away at it as if in an attempt to save a morsel. A lock of hair fell from behind her ear, but she did not bother to curl it back. At the bar, a quartet of old battlewagons were on their third round of beers with no signs of stopping anytime soon. One of them picked up a slice of fried potato as she looked in the destroyer leader's direction.

"That poor girl," California said as she munched on the potato.

"What?" Tennessee said as she turned around on the bar stool.

"Norfolk," California said. Nevada and Oklahoma turned their heads toward the post-World War II destroyer leader.

"Yeah, must be lonely being alone," Nevada said.

"Oh, you'd know about that!" Oklahoma teased.

"I had you for a good long while. And sometimes I wish you'd go back!" Nevada playfully countered.

"Oh, how hurtful!" Oklahoma said as she put a hand on her own chest to mimic being offended.

Norfolk, in a sense, was the United States Navy's Shimakaze: an experimental platform with cancelled sister ships. California asked for a cup of hot tea from O'Bannon, who was behind the bar, when the entrance door opened.

"Hey, Cleveland!" Tennessee shouted, now with four empty beer glasses beside her. In the doorway was Cleveland in a long-sleeved shirt and a blue vest with matching tie and slacks. Behind the light cruiser was an entourage of five slightly taller women.

"Who's the new steel?"

"You know who we are!" Des Moines said. She, Salem, Newport News, Worcester, and Roanoke filed in after Cleveland.

"They asked me where a good place to eat was," Cleveland said.

"Got any stories?" Salem quipped.

"Yes, I do, movie star!" Tennessee said as she set down another empty glass. "It all starts with knowing what I fought for during the war. Er, or my crew rather. Freedom and…"

"Here we go again," California said as she picked up the cup of hot tea from O'Bannon and the bowl of potatoes from the bar. She walked towards Norfolk. After a second of looking back and forth between the Tennessees, Nevada and Oklahoma followed California with beers in hand.

Norfolk's head jerked up when she saw California's slacks and shoes out of the corner of her eye. She curled her hair back behind her ear and looked at the dreadnought with wide eyes.

"May I join you?" California asked.

Norfolk rapidly and stiffly nodded. California put the potatoes and the tea on the table and sat across from Norfolk. Nevada and Oklahoma pulled chairs up and joined them with Nevada sat in the chair reversed with her arms and head rested on the chair's back.

"The tea is for the oil," California said as she gestured to her own throat.

Norfolk nodded. California leaned back against the wall. Nevada still had her head down. Oklahoma just sat there and sipped at her beer.

"Um. S-s-s-so why did you come over here?" Norfolk stammered.

"She speaks!" Nevada said softly as she lifted her head up.

"We've heard Tennessee's stories plenty of times," Oklahoma said. "And you looked…lonely."

Norfolk nodded. "So…what's the story?"

"The Battle of Athens," California said.

"Ancient Greece?" Norfolk asked.

"In Tennessee."

"So, Civil War?"

"No, it happened in 1946."

Norfolk tilted her head.

"In McMinn County, Tennessee, returning GIs wanting to replace the corrupt local government formed their own party and were against the incumbent of ten years," California said. "Considering the county's history and without any promise of a safe and fair election from local or the state, the GIs armed themselves and rebelled. Successfully, I might add."

Norfolk blinked.

"Can you imagine, though?" Nevada asked. "To be sent all over the world to fight authoritarian dictators only to come home to one. That sucks."

"Understatement," Oklahoma quipped. "They kept their oath, though."

California picked up a potato and gave a warm smile. "So, Norfolk. Any stories you want to share?"

A/N: From the plaque located onsite by the Tennessee Historical Commission:

Battle of Athens

August 1-2, 1946

The Battle of Athens was an armed revolt that gained national attention. Attempting to end the control of an entrenched political machine, World War II veterans used force to ensure that the day of local elections in 1946 every vote "was counted as cast." After local authorities locked themselves and the ballot boxes in the jail, veterans suspicious of foul play gathered weapons and ammunition and exchanged fire from this hill upon the jail, which stood across the street. The besieged authorities surrendered. At a meeting in the courthouse, and interim government was set up, followed by the election of the veterans' slate.