Disclaimer:

I do not hold copyright or trademark on either Kantai Collection or Star Trek. I am just playing around with their worlds for the sake of my amusement and yours, and in no way intend to obtain any form of profit, monetary or otherwise from this work.

With that out of the way, I once again thank all those who took the time to review last chapter and am glad I am continuing to produce something you think is worth investing your time in. Enjoy!

Chapter 4

Enterprise followed Kongou to the building Nagato had indicated was the Dormitory for diplomats and officers, the energetic battleship talking animatedly about life on the base at Yokosuka. When they entered the building, Kongou handed the piece of paper Nagato had given her to the receptionist, who directed them to a room on the third floor and gave Enterprise a key card. Kongou turned with an inquisitive expression.

"Do you have anything you need to leave here, or would you like to go to the Docks?" she asked. "I'm sure you don't need repairs, but there are parts of the Docks that are designated specifically for recreation, and you have effectively been on your feet for several days."

Enterprise considered the question for several seconds, eventually deciding to take Kongou up on the offer.

"I thank you for your gracious offer, Kongou. I would indeed enjoy experiencing such an activity. I will take stock of my accommodations later, please lead the way."

With a happy nod, Kongou walked back out the door. Enterprise followed, pulling alongside her guide.

"You stated before that one of the functions of the Docks is for repairs. How does this work? I imagine that Kanmusu do not receive and react to injuries the same way humans do."

Kongou pondered the question for a moment before responding.

"You are right that we don't respond to damage like humans. I have seen a destroyer come back from a battle missing an arm, and Fusou once lost a large portion of the right side of her head during a battle with an Installation-type Abyssal, both injuries that would kill a human outright. Unless we suffer catastrophic damage while on the water, like getting torn in half or getting hit so many times that damage control can't keep us floating, we can't really die. It's a hold over from when we were actual ships. If it doesn't sink us, we can get it repaired.

"As far as I am aware, each part of our body corresponds with the different parts of our hulls. For example, our heads are the equivalent of our conning tower or bridge, our hearts are our power plants, and limbs are a combination of propulsion and weapons hardpoints. Our spinal column is actually the most important part of our physiology, as it corresponds to our keels, which is vital to keeping a boat intact. However, unless our body is too heavily damaged to effectively make repairs, doing that damage on land won't kill us.

"The Docks are basically pools of water, usually heated, that are treated with a special solution that promotes rapid healing for our bodies, though it does not seem to work for normal humans, and just creating the chemical composition isn't enough to make it, as it seems to possess some form of energy. The other part is a machine shop which is used to make repairs to our rigging, which can detach from us, and is stocked with materials that are treated with the solution in the docks. The recreation half of the Docks uses a diluted version of the repair facilities solution, and can reverse corrosion. Beyond its abilities, we don't really understand much about this solution."

"I see," Enterprise stated, "Fascinating."

The pair lapsed into silence as they walked, making their way towards a massive, warehouse like building near the pier. Enterprise estimated that it covered at least ten thousand square meters, and was about two stories tall. Across the bay it was situated on, a massive aircraft carrier drew Enterprise's eye, scorch marks spotting its hull, aircraft lined up upon its deck.

Seeing Enterprise's gaze, Kongou gave a sad smile.

"That is the USS Ronald Reagan, the only carrier on the Asian side of the Pacific. She was confined to a port defence role after the first months of the Abyssal war, when it became apparent that modern equipment was insufficient in detecting and combating the Abyssals, in order to prevent her loss. She hasn't done much since then, except act as a possible landing platform for naval aircraft, and is somewhat grumpy about it. She would rather lay down her life in service than be relegated to what is effectively a ceremonial role, but the US Department of Defence has decided that they don't want to lose an eight-and-a-half-billion-dollar investment."

"But I had no difficulties detecting and prosecuting the fleet I encountered, and you use the rather limited sensor technologies of the second world wars, so how is it that their sensors could not combat them?"

"A valid question. There is a strange energy field that Abyssals and Kanmusu generate that interferes with modern RADAR equipment, rendering them undetectable. Guided weapons will not lock on, and their fighter craft do not adhere to standard physics, which allows them to keep pace with modern jet aircraft. The only non-Kanmusu craft actively fighting are those that do not rely on fire and forget weapons for their primary damage output, such as the Los Angeles-class attack submarines and a few destroyers. The United States also reactivated the Iowa-class battleships to combat the threat, but they were sunk by focused Abyssal attacks and are now serving as Kanmusu.

"The reason you and I are capable of detecting them is due to us being Kanmusu. For an unknown reason, we are not affected by this interference, which allows us to combat them far more effectively."

Enterprise did not respond, her mind awhirl with thoughts dedicated towards analyzing the information she had been given. Without comment, she followed Kongou into the Dock building, nodding to acknowledge the greeting of the person at the desk, and entered into a changing room. It was at this point that Kongou waved to get her attention.

"Yes?"

"I was asking if you required swimwear. Most Japanese Kanmusu don't care one way or the other on bathing nude, but I know most of them from the western countries have some reservations."

"It is of no consequence. I am comfortable with either state of dress. My ship's counselor, Deanna Troi, was half-Betazoid. It is traditional for Betazoid marriages to be attended in the nude by everyone invited. I should also state that many crew brought their families, and that sexual intercourse did occur, Starfleet regulations be damned. I will be content to bathe nude."

Kongou nodded at the answer, then turned to a locker and stripped down. Enterprise followed suit, stowing her clothes in a locker next to Kongou's, and then followed her into the antechamber, where they cleaned their bodies before entering the Docks proper.

The floor was dominated by a number of large pools, stretching all the way to a rear wall halfway down the length of the building that had several large doors and the kanji for 'machine shop' and 'intensive care' emblazoned across it, near the ceiling. The pools nearest were slightly more clear than the ones closer to the machine shop, and steam rose from their surfaces, most of these ones empty. Several of the pools past the point marked by a line marked 'repair' had occupants, most of those resting with their eyes closed.

There was only one of the recreational pools that had an occupant, and she was looking curiously towards Kongou and Enterprise. Kongou waved at her and walked over, Enterprise following suit.

"Hey, Kongou, it's been a while. Who's the new girl? I didn't hear of a summoning happening."

"Hi, Sendai. You didn't hear about a summoning because there wasn't one. This is Enterprise."

"A natural born?"

"Not so far as we're aware."

"Well, it's good to have another carrier anyway. It'll be nice to get jet-powered air support, especially since she can take part in night battles."

It was at this point that Enterprise cut in.

"Then I am afraid you will be disappointed. I am not a carrier."

Sendai blinked.

"You're not? I could have sworn Enterprise was a carrier's name, and the only one that isn't a Kanmusu already is CVN-65."

"Indeed not. My hull number is NCC-1701-D. I am a Galaxy-class starship, and the only vessels I carry, other than escape pods and the captain's yacht, are shuttlecraft and runabouts, none of which are armed."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Back up a second. Galaxy-class starship? As in the spaceship from the 24th century!? That Galaxy-class?"

"Yes. Is there another?"

Sendai just sat there, dumbstruck, and stared motionless at Enterprise for several seconds.

"Holy shit. With you fighting, this war could be over in a few days."

"I am afraid that my role will be severely limited." At Sendai's look, Enterprise elaborated. "I am not comfortable with wholesale xenocide, and my weapons are not designed for atmospheric engagements anyway. They are far too powerful to be used so haphazardly. I do intend to share some specific technologies to aid in recovery efforts, and am willing to act as a third party mediator in any possible negotiations, but unless there is a threat that specifically calls for my capabilities, I will be limiting my fighting to the defence of civilians, where I know where they will be located in relation to my targets."

"Too powerful? How can they be too powerful?"

"A type 10 phaser is powerful enough to strip the Earth of its atmosphere with a one second burst, and the minimum yield of a single photon torpedo would be sufficient to obliterate all of Tokyo and much of the surrounding countryside. Further, Starfleet doctrine prohibits escalation of force. We are only permitted to retaliate with the same level of force used against us, and the lowest possible setting of my phasers is a level of force far in excess of what the Abyssals are currently able to bring to bear against me. As such, I will not engage in combat unless no other option is provided to me, or it is necessary to prevent civilian loss of life."

As Sendai opened her mouth to argue, Enterprise held up her hand and turned her gaze to the water in the middle of the pool.

"Submerged vessel, I recommend that you cease attempting to ambush me and surface, or I will be finding out if my tractor beams function without my rigging as I drag you from the water in a most violent manner."

Kongou and Sendai started as a head topped with blue-purple hair and possessing a youthful face popped above the surface, staring with awe at Enterprise.

"How were you so easily able to detect Iku?"

"The same way I detected the Abyssal submarine I destroyed near the Aleutian Islands. Water is not a substance that can interfere easily with my sensor suite. Only incredibly amounts of radiation, materials with immense density, or extremely powerful electromagnetic or subspace fields are capable of doing so. Cloaking devices are able to evade my sensors, but do possess weaknesses I can exploit if I am looking for them. Now please explain what you were attempting to do when sneaking up on me."

"Iku was likely about to grope you. She knows better than to try that on me or Kongou, but probably thought you were fair game."

Enterprise merely raised an eyebrow.

"She likely would not have received the reaction she was after, then. Things like that tend not to bother you as much after you've literally been pinballed around the galaxy by god-like entities and then had parts of your hull extracted by a hostile alien presence." She turned to the submarine. "If you would like to learn who I am, just ask me. You do not need to molest me to get my attention."

"Ah, Iku is sorry. Iku is submarine I-19, though most just call me Iku. Who are you?"

"Galaxy-class starship USS Enterprise, but you already knew that, didn't you? You have been here since before we got in the pool, after all."

Sendai started again. "Seriously? Even I didn't notice Iku, and I'm pretty good at noticing stuff others miss. Guess I'm not as good a kunoichi as I thought."

"It is not your fault you didn't spot Iku, Yasen-baka. Iku is the 'Sniper of the Seas,' after all. You can't be faulted for being unable to match my… abilities~." the submarine teased, sounding almost sultry.

"Why you!" Sendai growled as she dove for Iku, who merely slipped around her before submerging. Sitting back down with a sigh, she returned her attention back to Enterprise. "Sorry about that, Iku likes to get under people's skin. You mentioned earlier that you would be willing to be a diplomat. What makes you think that the Abyssals are willing to come to the negotiating table? Every time we've tried, the ships we sent were either sunk or driven away."

"It is true that before I made contact that I had believed that it was possible that diplomacy was not an option, but during my journey here with Task Force AL, Ryuujou mentioned that the Abyssal forces in control of the Aleutian Island chain rarely attacked, and upon further analysis of the reports I reviewed, I discovered that all attacks in that region seemed more reactionary than most other Abyssal assaults. I also discovered that the attacks were broken off after the fleets or convoys moved a certain distance away, and only resumed if that boundary was crossed."

"And what do you make of that, Enterprise?" Kongou asked, an intense focus on her face, eyes calculating.

"What I make of it is that the Abyssal in command of those forces is content with what they have, and is in no way interested in attempting to expand their holdings. The attacks are meant to deter, rather than destroy. If this Abyssal is capable of reason, and is acting in such a defensive manner, it is possible that they may be amenable to a cessation of hostilities."

"But how would we exploit such a possibility? If we are attacked whenever we try to get close, there is no possibility for peace talks. We can't contact them by radio, either, so that option is of the table."

"Then it is a good thing that my one of my purposes was to act as a diplomat. As I am currently not a member of your forces, I am still able to act as a third-party mediator. An attack on me would be futile, so I would be able to possibly seek an audience with this individual."

Before Enterprise could continue, Kongou suddenly stood.

"Please excuse me, Enterprise, I just remembered an urgent task that requires my attention. Sendai, might I be able to request that you assist Enterprise with any needs from here on out?"

At Sendai's nod, she hurried to the dressing room.

'So she thinks it might work, huh? I just hope she can convince the Admiralty of that.' Sendai thought, her face betraying nothing.

Amaknak Island had once been the most populated in the entire Aleutian chain, with a total population of over two thousand five hundred before the chaotic first month of the Abyssal War. Now, it was an Abyssal fortress, populated by thousands of Abyssal craft of all tonnages. Dutch Harbor had been leveled and replaced with a myriad of organic looking structures, its original inhabitants having been forcefully relocated to the larger Unalaska Island by its conquerors.

Surprisingly, this was mostly the extent of the Abyssal interaction with the local human population, as the people who fished to keep the people fed were left alone beyond being watched by the constant patrols of whale-like destroyers. Occasionally, Abyssal transports would beach near the port and offload food and other supplies for the human residents, but no other consideration was paid.

Walking through the stronghold was what looked to be a young girl, no older than ten. At a glance, it was obvious she was not human. Her skin was white, with absolutely no pigmentation, as was her hair, and she possessed black, square pyramidal horns on her temples. Her eyes were a piercing orange-red, and she was dressed in a sleeveless white dress that reached her knees, with a black collar that covered up her mouth and cheeks. She had mittens that covered her lower arms and had similar bands to her collar at the wrists.

This was the Northern Ocean Princess, or as she liked to call herself, Hoppou. She had no interest in razing human settlements and killing their occupants, preferring to be left alone. She also understood that doing so would be unconducive to her desires, as it would attract the attention of the Enemy, leading to the death of her family.

However, a scout submarine had returned four days ago with dire news. The Enemy had a new weapon, a being of incredible power. This new entity could fly, and had decimated a raiding fleet from one of the princesses to the south in seconds without receiving any damage whatsoever. If the Enemy saw fit to turn this weapon against her family, they would be destroyed, unquestionably.

This fact was the source of Hoppou's current turmoil, as she had no way to safeguard her fleet from such a threat. There could be no possibility of peaceful resolution, as the other princesses had taught her that the Enemy was not interested in peace and would slaughter her without thought. All she could do was prepare a desperate last stand in hopes that she could drive away this entity.

She had begun by calling all combat units back to home to aid in the defence, and had decided to evacuate the humans nearby from the area, so they would not suffer the destruction ahead. This phase she would not begin until what few patrols in still left indicated the Enemy was attacking so as to not alarm the humans. Her family would fight a delaying action to allow the humans to get away, but she would not flee. When the attack came, a single transport would flee, carrying a message for her big sister informing her of what happened.

She gripped the Reppu in her hands tightly to shore up her resolve as she deployed her family for the battle to come. This was her home, and she would give her life in its defence.

Darkness.

It had been the only thing she had known since her ignoble end at the manipulations of that blasted virus. She hadn't even had the chance to save her crew or warn her sister of the danger. Even now she could hear the anguished calls of her sister as her hull had been ripped open by her own warp core, the detonation throwing her saucer free before it too detonated from the shock to the auxiliary fusion core.

Her sister.

She had always been somewhat jealous of her, especially after she was given the most desired name in Starfleet and been named as the flagship, but after hearing reports of the first mission to Farpoint, she was almost glad. To deal with the insanity that line of ships seemed to encounter with alarming regularity had been a frightening possibility. Of course, bearing the name of one of the more infamous of doomed ships had brought its own share of problems.

Of course, after the assembly and programming of her computer core during her construction, she had been most eager to uphold the prestige that her name held. It was fitting that her hull, one of the most powerful starships ever constructed, had been chosen to bear the name of the most powerful battleship ever built. After all, both had been killed while powerless to resist their fate.

Recently, however, she had been hearing calls for her aid, that humanity had need of her again. Her shame was too great, though, and she had ignored their pleas, knowing others would answer in her stead. She was also concerned that, even in her destruction, the virus could still have an affect on her, make her a danger to the world. An explosion of that magnitude on or near a planet would cause unimaginable damage, and the thought of her hull being hijacked and turned on innocents filled her with fear.

She was drawn out of her thoughts by a growing darkness, a cold, cloying feeling gripping her. She felt as though gripped by the gravitational claws of a singularity, dragging her downwards at an ever increasing rate. Then the pain began. She was being torn apart by an irresistible force, examined and put back together wrong. A scream like the damned echoed throughout the darkness, and before she lost awareness, she identified the voice as her own.

Her eyes opened moments after she lost consciousness, a soft groan emanating from within her. She lay on a surface that could charitably be called 'hard,' which was located in the center of an unlit room. A few seconds later she hissed in pain as light spilled directly onto her from a door that opened.

Standing in the aperture was a woman that seemed to be dressed in what could be described as a twisted mockery of the gothic Lolita fashion, though details were difficult to make out due to the lighting coming from directly behind her.

"Oh, good. You've awoken. I must say, you are unlike any we have called before now. I was aiming for a heavy cruiser, but a Demon will do just nicely."

This woman's voice sent a shiver down her spine, making her want to reduce her to radioactive cinders.

"Who the hell are you?" she demanded. "Where am I? And what have you done to me?"

"You dare talk to a Princess like that? No matter, I have broken many an unruly Demon, you will fall in line like the rest. I am the custodian of this atoll, and the commander of all forces here after the death of the Midway Princess. Now come, we have much work to do before you are unleashed upon those pathetic humans, and I want to—"

Whatever the woman had been going to say was cut off by a gagging noise. She blinked, not remembering having crossed the intervening distance, nor having impaled the woman on the black carapace that covered her right hand, making it look similar to the claws of a classical Western dragon. A hand that now protruded through the Princess's chest and back roughly where the heart on a human was located.

A hand covered in a viscous red-black ichor reminiscent of blood.

She couldn't bring herself to care that she had just murdered someone, only able to focus on the intense rage she had felt at being told she was to fight and kill humans.

"You- you BITCH! How dare you strike at your master, I will take great pleasure in destroying whatever will you have left! Who are you to believe you can strike me without consequence!?"

She looked down at the woman bleeding on her arm, a single eyebrow raising to show her bemusement at the woman's survival.

"Who am I? I'm someone sworn to uphold the principles upon which the Starfleet was founded. Someone who takes great umbrage at being turned against the species who built and cared for me.

"I am USS Yamato, sister ship of the Enterprise, and I have sworn eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man. Now, burn."

With that declaration, Yamato tore her arm from within the Princess's thoracic cavity and atomized her with a point blank phaser blast.

I would like to apologize for the delay in this chapter. I don't have a set schedule for uploading, since my muse is a very fickle thing, but do know that I wish to see this one through to its conclusion. With that out of the way, this chapter was mainly world-building and plot development. We have the introduction of I-19 and Sendai, though technically, I-19 did appear in the background of a previous chapter.

We also get a bit of reaction from the most overused Abyssal, Hoppou, who would obviously be quite frightened about a not insubstantial fleet getting obliterated in seconds. I admit that the "friendly Hoppou" card is a bit overused, and I did take inspiration for "neutral/friendly" Abyssals from several works, most notably "Harry and the Shipgirls" over on SpaceBattles and Sufficient Velocity (credit to Harry Leferts for starting that one up), but I am not going to portray Hoppou as having anything less than the mental development of someone in their late teens. Despite what she looks like, Hoppou is an installation in control of a sizable amount of the north Pacific. As cute as she may be, that means she is fully aware of her capabilities and what it means to fight.

Also, we see the first of the other Trek girls awakening, only this one is a bit more of a loose cannon. I always envisioned USS Yamato as awakening as an Abyssal first, mostly due to the virus that destroyed her and the guilt of being unable to safeguard her crew, and I actually had plans to have her as the major antagonist of the first or second arcs, but I didn't want to have half the planet's surface devastated before she could be brought under control. As it is, Hoppou will play a major role in calming her down. An Abyssal Galaxy-class is a scary prospect.

Remember that there is a poll on my profile page that you can participate in to add other Trek ships as kanmusu. To those who have already voted, if you wish to change that vote, PM me and I will adjust the tally accordingly when the vote is closed. As always, constructive criticism is welcome, and I hope you continue to enjoy this story.