─•~:~•─

The Squadron sang and danced, enjoying a few quiet days of sun and sand. Hood and the maids sat on the beach, enjoying the sun and the swimming and copious amounts of Eagle Union fried food.

Repulse and Adelaide decided to best their Eagle Union friends Lexington and Saratoga in a game of cricket. But to their shock, the carriers solidly defeated Repulse and Adelaide, humbling the Royal Navy's reputation.

As the Squadron prepared to leave Pearl, Saratoga held up a signed cricket bat presented to her by Hood in honour of her victory. Stencilled black letters on the wood read:

Who's the cutest idol in the world? Sister Sara!

For the second time in the journey, the Special Service Squadron crossed the 39th parallel and turned east into English Bay.

Repulse looked around in amazement at the deep, mountainous forests in the inlet.

'This is amazing!' She said, breathing the mountain air in deeply, 'Look at all this. We don't have trees nearly this tall back home.'

'God almighty!' Adelaide replied, 'I mean, we got cactus and what not in Aussie, but Crikey, have ye ever seen anything this big?!'

Hood smiled at her escorts, 'I had a feeling you'd love Vancouver. The Maple Monarchy is a paradise of untouched wilderness. BC is one of our oldest colonies, and we've never visited before now.'

Dauntless sailed to Hood's side and bowed, 'Apologies, Lady Hood. It seems our escort is tardy. I'm afraid I don't know how to proceed. We were only told to wait at English Bay.'

From down the shore, a tiny ship poked her head from behind a tall Spruce. On her head was a proper toque, with red balls hanging down the sides, touching her plaid-covered shoulders.

Though having to squint, Hood spotted the little ship and called out, 'Hello there, little one!'

'Ahhhh!' the little boat screamed, hiding behind the tree and launching depth charges from her side racks.

'You scared her,' Repulse said fatly.

'I… I just said hello," said Hood, utterly confused.

Repulse sailed closer to the tree, 'It's alright, little one, we're not here to hurt you.'

'Go away!' she shouted, 'I've got a full mount of Hedgehogs, eh? I'll shoot them at you if you come closer!'

'Why the devil would you do that? I'm the Battlecruiser Repulse from the Royal Navy. We're your friends,' Repulse said, trying to peak around the tree.

'No friggen way! You're a scary monster from the lake or something. You're name's really Ogopogo! No ship can be that big!' the little boat shouted back, opening her Hedgehog mount.

'I'm not a monster! I'm just a Battlecruiser. Come out of there and tell me your name!' Repulse shouted.

The little boat shook, but she peaked her toque out for a moment, 'Okay, fine, I'm coming out. But if you're a monster, I'll shoot you, eh!'

The little boat appeared, and Repulse smiled at the River class Frigate of the Maple Monarchy.

'Hello,' Repulse said, kneeling to bring herself closer to Frigate, 'What's your name then?'

'Victoriaville,' she replied, aiming her double four-inch mount at Repulse, 'These are four-inch guns! You try anything monstery, and I'll shoot you, eh,'

'Four-inch? Why my secondaries are five. Don't point your guns at your friends,' Repluse replied, scolding the Frigate.

As Hood sailed forward, Victoriaville suddenly shifted her aim, 'Holy frig, you're even bigger?! You're not gonna eat me, you big monsters! I might have tiny guns, but I've got ASDIC; I'll track you all the way to Prince George eh!'

Hood giggled and gently took Victoriaville in a hug, 'Oh, the little Frigates of the RCN are adorable. Your bravery is truly inspiring, Victoriaville. Here you are and ready to fight a pair of Battlecruisers. Her Majesty would be so proud.'

Suddenly, Victoriaville went wide-eyed, 'Waaait…. You big monsters are the Special Service Squad?! Well, why the frig didn't you say so?! Queen Liz told me to escort you guys into Van. You're like, late. Let's get going!'

The Little Frigate, just under three hundred feet long, led the Squadron into the inlet that would take them to Vancouver harbour. The waters began to tighten and shallow as they drew closer.

'Watch your feet, eh? It's only like fifty feet deep here, and you big monsters will get stuck in the mud!' Victoriaville shouted from the bow.

Hood gracefully sailed through, but Repulse suddenly found herself stuck.

Sailing beside, Dauntless asked, 'Are you stuck, Lady Repulse?'

Repulse yanked on the chain, 'Oh bother. It's my port anchor,' she said, pulling, 'Just a minute. I'll… I'll get it…. '

Repulse pulled as hard as she could, but the chain snapped, and her anchor sank to the bottom of the dark waters.

Hearing the loud rumbling on her ASDIC set, Victoriaville turned around, 'Hey! Don't be shedding parts in the bay, eh? We'll never get that stuff out!'