─•~:~•─
The Battlecruisers worked diligently to pack Repulse's belongings onto the transport.
Renown was once again aghast at her sister's lack of care and preparation.
'Repulse!' she shouted, 'Did you forget your raincoat again?! It's going to be very stormy near Good Hope. You should be more careful.'
'Oh, stop worrying so much, Renown, I'm going to be just fine,' Repulse replied as she raced around the docks, waiting for her signal to depart.
Renown dropped her jaw in shock as she opened the sac with her sister's change of clothes, 'And just where might your uniform be, Young Lady?! You can't seriously expect to meet Her Majesty's subjects in your normal wear and tear!'
Repulse sailed over and looked at all the fuss, 'Oh. I'd forgotten about that. Well, I'm sure it'll be fine. Everyone is more interested in Hood anyway. She's always so prim and proper and elegant. I'll probably just be bored stiff watching after the little destroyers all day.'
'Oh, you're such a stubborn little girl, Repulse. Don't you go making an embarrassment of us out on the high sea. If you make us look silly, Her Majesty will reassign us as training barges!' said Renown as she tossed the sac back onto the barge.
Repulse suddenly looked sad, 'She wouldn't do that?! Would she?'
'It'll be your fault if she does! You should pay more attention to things Repulse. This trip is a grand opportunity for us, and it means a great deal to Her Majesty!'
Sensing that her sister needed more reassurance, Repulse sailed over close and took Renown in a soft hug.
'That's why you're my favourite sister, Renown. You always take care of the little things.'
Renown scoffed, 'I'm your only sister, you silly girl! Did you forget that the Admiralty scrapped the other three before the war ended?'
Repulse smiled, 'Nope. And that's why you're my favourite.'
To the right, the light cruiser Dauntless, the newest member of the Royal Maids, approached the Battlecruisers.
With her long black hair tied back in a perfect ribbon, she bowed before each of the Battlecruisers, 'Good day to you, Lady Renown and Lady Repulse. Lady Hood requests the pleasure of Lady Repulse's company at the Hoxa Sound. The Special Service Squadron is preparing to depart within the hour.'
Repulse sighed to her sister, 'Well, I'll be off then. Look after home for me, Renown.'
She then turned to Dauntless, supposedly the fastest of the Royal Maids, 'What's your top speed Dauntless?'
'I can make twenty-nine knots on a clear day and a calm sea, my Lady Repulse' said Dauntless with perfect grace.
'Ha! I made thirty-three in my speed trials. Let's race to the Sound!' replied Repulse as she set her boilers to full power.
The Battlecruiser and the Light Cruiser suddenly chased after each other in the narrow waters of Scapa Flow.
The last thing Repulse heard before she departed was, 'Don't race in the harbour, Repulse! That's against the rules!'