Date: 6/9/15
Inside the repair baths, Ise slowly opened her eyes. She blinked once, then twice, and looked herself over; something felt different. She stood up, got out of the baths, and summoned her rigging. She looked over it and the first thing she noticed is that she had two aircraft catapults instead of one. The second thing she noticed is that she eight twin 12.7 cm guns instead of four. The third thing she noticed is that her casemate guns had dropped from sixteen to eight and her close-range AA armament had been significantly increased. Instead of ten twin 25 mm AA guns she had thirty-one triple 25 mm AA guns and ten twin 25 mm AA guns. The fourth thing she noticed is that instead of an E8N2 floatplane her catapults had A6M2-Ns on them.
Curious, she ordered them to launch. The sound of aircraft engines filled the room and they launched as two silver streaks the exploded into eight A6M2-Ns. They circled her at ceiling height and Ise watched them.
The door to the baths burst open. "Big sister!" Ise turned to see Hyuga beaming at her. She looked up at the planes circling her sister. "So you have them too." Ise titled her head and Hyuga summed her rigging before launching two silver streaks that exploded into another eight A6M2-Ns. The sisters watched their warplanes engage in mock dogfights against each other.
Ise hissed and held her head an action that didn't go unnoticed. "Big sister, are you alright?" Hyuga rested her hand on Ise's shoulder and looked at her with concern. Ise held her hand and nodded. "I'm fine sister. Just some rather painful memories."
"Oh."
Ise smiled at her, "I'm fine now. I think I know why we have these planes. After the loss at Midway, we were converted into hybrid carriers. That's why our refit included eight A6M2-Ns. Only, we're not carrier battleship hybrids. I don't see a flight deck on our rigging; what about you?"
Hyuga looked over Ise and then herself. "Nope, I don't see a flight deck."
"Exactly. So why are we able to launch and recover planes?"
Hyuga shook her head. "I don't know. I spent an hour thinking about the same thing but I just gave up."
Ise turned her attention to her squadron and ordered them to land. They turned into eight silver streaks and merged with each other leaving two streaks to land on her catapults and reform into A6M2-Ns. "Well, that's neat."
Hyuga sighed, "That's neat?' IT'S AMAZING!"
Ise laughed and Hyuga pouted. She hugged her, "I love you."
Hyuga beamed and hugged her back. "I love you too."
She pulled away, "Come on, Commander Shuko wanted to see us once our refits were finished."
"Well, let's not keep him waiting." Ise pushed the door open and her sister followed her. They passed dozens of personal on their way to the Commander's office. They also passed fifteen Kanmusu which was of note to the sisters. They arrived at the Commander's office a minute later.
'Knock, knock.'
"Come in."
Ise stepped in and her sister followed. "Sir, Ise reporting."
"Sir, Hyuga reporting."
He looked up from what he was doing and nodded to them. "Ise, Hyuga I take it your repairs and refits are finished?"
"Yes sir. We are ready to sortie on your order."
"Excellent. Tomorrow, at eleven hundred hours, a convoy carrying reinforcements will pass by Okinawa. You will escort them to Taiwan. Once you're there you will assist our troops on the island. Understood?"
"Yes sir."
He nodded, "Dismissed." They saluted and left.
"Well, looks like we have the rest of the day to ourselves. What do you want to do?"
"Well, the first thing I'm going to do is call Akashi-san."
"Alright, well I'm going to my room to chat with a few friends. The room number is twelve so when you're done talking to Akashi-san come to my room and I'll induce you to them."
"Alright, see you in a minute." They waved to each other and went their separate ways. Ise headed toward the docks and stepped out into the summer sun. She looked out across the ocean and smiled. She pulled out her phone and called Akashi. It rang a few times before she picked up.
"Ise-san! It's about time you called me. I was worried you forgotten about me," Akashi said, playfully.
Ise smiled and laughed a little. "I would never forget about you. I'm sorry we haven't been able to talk recently. I've been a little busy."
"I know. With the assault on Taiwan I'm surprised you're able to call me in the first place."
"Well, I'm actually at Okinawa naval base. I was damaged during an air attack and before you start to worry I'm fine."
Akashi sighed, "I'm glad to hear that. I would tell you to be more careful but I know that wouldn't accomplish anything."
"Don't worry about me Akashi-san. I'm a battleship; I can take a hit."
"I know. Well, on a different topic, I'm heading for Okinawa tomorrow."
"Really?"
"Yeah. With the assault on Taiwan Admiral Goto wants me at Okinawa to help with repairs."
"I feel safer already," Ise said with a smile. "Hey, the rest of my memories finally came back."
"Really? That's great to hear! When did they come back?"
"After my refit. The thing is they weren't as bad as I thought they were. I mean, they were painful but not traumatizing."
"What were they about?"
"My conversion into a battleship-carrier hybrid."
"Did your refit convert you into a hybrid?"
"No, but I can launch and recover eight A6M2-N floatplanes despite lacking the facilities for them."
"Ise-san, if you're hoping I have an answer for you I'm sorry. Does anything feel wrong?"
"No. It actually feels right. Like I was missing a part of myself before but I just didn't know it."
Akashi sighed, "Let me know if anything changes, alright."
"I will."
"I got to go Ise-san we'll talk later. Bye."
"Bye." Her phone beeped when Akashi ended the call. She put her phone away and summoned her rigging. She slowly looked over every meter of her hull but other than the two catapults she didn't see anything that could support aircraft. She asked her crew and their response was that her number five and six turrets somehow doubled as a small flight and hanger deck. If one of those turrets was destroyed she would lose the ability to recover her aircraft.
She ordered her crew to ready her aircraft and launch them. Once they were in the air she ordered them to land and watched as wisps of silver fire gathered over her turrets. A few seconds later a semi-translucent flight deck appeared on top of the turrets. "Well, that's... cool."
"Hey! Hey, hey, hey!"
"I have to summon the flight deck to recover my aircraft. Good to know." Her planes landed and after a few minutes her flight deck shimmered out of existence. She nodded and stepped back inside the base. She headed to the dorm rooms and knocked on the door that read twelve.
"Come in!"
Ise stepped inside and her sister was in the middle of the room staring at a semi-translucent flight deck on top of her number five and six turrets. Ise chuckled at the look on her sister's face. "Wow."
"That's the same reaction I had."
She looked up when she heard her voice, "Do you what this is for?"
"Your crew didn't tell you?"
Hyuga rubbed the back of her neck. "I think they did but I wasn't paying attention."
Ise shook her head. "The flight deck allows us to recover our aircraft."
Hyuga tilted her head. "We don't need it to launch them?"
"Nope."
"Good to know."
"HEY! HEY, HEY, HEY!"
Hyuga laughed sheepishly and her cheeks slowly turned red from embarrassment. "I know but you should know better than anyone how distracted I can get."
"Hey, hey."
"So, you wanted to introduce me to your friends."
"Oh! Right, I knew I was forgetting something." She walked over to a monitor and turned it on. "Just let me set this up. It won't take but a minute." Ise nodded and looked around the room. There wasn't much to see. Besides two beds and two nightstands, it was empty and nothing hung on the gray walls.
"Okay, I invited them to chat so if they're not busy they should be here in a minute or so."
"Alright, so who are these friends of yours?"
"It's a surprise. Come on, sit."
Ise obliged and sat next to her. "Why is it so important to keep your friends a secret?"
"Because one of them is going to surprise you." Hyuga smiled at her.
"Wait, if only one of them will surprise me why are you keeping all of them a secret?"
"Because I can," she said with a smile. Ise rolled her eyes and playfully pushed her. "I hope this friend of yours surprises me as much as you think it will."
About a minute later a window popped up on the screen but no one was there. Hyuga sighed, "She always does this," she muttered. "Akatsuki-san!"
There was a yelp and she poked her head into frame. "I did it again! I really need to stop doing this. Hi Hyuga-san! Is that your sister with you?"
Ise waved, "Hello Akatsuki-san. So you're one of these mysterious friends my sister keeps telling me about."
"Mysterious? Hyuga-san, what have you been up to?"
"Nothing! I just wanted my sister to meet you instead of me telling her about you."
Akatsuki stared at her for a minute be nodding. "Okay. So, where is everybody?"
"I don't know. I invited them to chat about ninety seconds ago."
"They might be busy," Ise pointed out.
"Maybe." Hyuga sighed, "I really wanted to introduce you to my friends," she pouted. Ise pulled her into a hug. "It's fine sister. You'll just have to introduce me to them another time." Hyuga returned the hug. "I'm sorry for wasting your time Akatsuki-san."
She waved it off. "It's fine. I'm bored anyway and talking with you is nice. Besides, the three of us can still chat." Just as she finished talking two more windows opened up. "Sorry for the wait. I was just waking up when I got your invite."
"Mutsu-san! It's great to see you again."
"It's great to see you too Hyuga-san. And who's the beautiful lady beside you?"
Ise felt her cheeks heat up. She had never been called beautiful before. It was... nice.
Hyuga narrowed her eyes. "Mutsu-san, did you just flirt with my big sister?"
"Big sister?" She looked at both of them and her eyes widened. "Sorry. I didn't know she was your sister." She laughed lightly in embarrassment.
Hyuga sighed, "Mutsu-san, one of these days your flirting is going to get you in trouble."
"I agree with Hyuga-san."
Mutsu shook her head. "Now the two of you sound like my big sister."
Hyuga and Ise laughed while Akatsuki attempted to conceal her giggling. The third woman on the screen just shook her head with a smile. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Takao it is nice to meet you Ise-san."
"It's nice to meet you too, Takao-san."
"Big sister!"
"Wh-" Akatsuki was tackled out of frame by someone. "Why didn't you tell me about the chat!?"
"Ah, get off!" There was a 'thud' and Akatsuki stepped back into the picture. She brushed her hair before turning to someone out of frame. "I did! Did you not check your phone?"
There was an embarrassed laugh, "Uh yes?"
"Ikazuchi-san!"
"I'm sorry! It didn't vibrate or make a noise so how was I supposed to know you sent me a message!?"
"Give me your phone." Ikazuchi grumbled to herself before handing over her phone. Akatsuki hit the power button and then sent a heated glare at her sister. "It's off! That's why you didn't get my text!"
"I didn't turn it off! I just hit the button for a second!"
"If that was true the screen would turn on when I press the button! You held the button and turned it completely off!"
"I'm sorry okay! I just got this phone yesterday!"
"Akatsuki-san, do not blame your sister. I helped her with the phone so if it is any one's fault it is mine."
Ikazuchi stepped into the picture. "No! Takao-san it's my fault. I should have asked more questions about it. Soooooo, do you mind showing me how it works again," she asked nervously.
Takao smiled. "After we finish this chat I can."
Ikazuchi beamed, "Thank you Takao-san!"
"You are welcome."
Akatsuki looked at her sister for a minute before sighing. "I'm sorry sister. I shouldn't have yelled at you." She looked down at the floor ashamed of herself.
Ikazuchi turned around, pouted at her big sister, and hugged her. "It's alright big sister. I know we don't always get along but as long as we apologize we'll be fine." Akatsuki smiled and hugged her back. "I love you."
"I love you too."
The group watched the two sisters with smiles on their faces. They broke away and looked back at the camera. "We appear to be missing two friends," she pointed out.
Hyuga nodded, "Yes we are. I was hoping they were just running late but it looks like they're on a sortie. I'm hoping you three might know something about that."
Takao shook her head. "I am sorry Hyuga-san. I do not have any information."
Akatsuki shook her head but Ikazuchi cupped her chin. "I do remember Fubuki-san running past me a day ago. I asked her why she was in such a hurry and she just said she was being transferred to a different naval base."
"Okay, I'm sorry to interrupt your little detective game but who is the mysterious sixth person?"
Hyuga looked at her, "Well, her name is Yamato-san."
Ise just looked at her sister and she blinked owlishly. "...You're friends... with Yamato-sama."
"Surprise!"
Ise shook her head and smiled. "Yeah, that's definitely a surprise."
The intercom came on, "The ninth fleet is to prepare to sortie immediately." The call caught Ise and Hyuga off guard. For a second they thought it was Commander Shuko who gave the order but they paused. As far as they're aware there is no ninth fleet stationed at Okinawa.
"It looks like we are going to have to cut this short. I am sorry Hyuga-san."
She waved it off. "There nothing apologize for. Be careful out there."
"Don't worry about us Hyuga-san," Mutsu said with a smile. "We'll send the abyssals to the bottom!"
"Yeah! Those abyssals will taste my torpedoes!"
"Sister! Don't yell when your right next to me!"
"...Sorry."
Akatsuki shook her head. "It was nice meeting you Ise-san. Bye."
Ise waved, "Be careful out there."
"We will." With that, Akatsuki, Mutsu, and Takao signed off.
"Well, now what?"
Hyuga smiled at her. "Well, we do have a score to settle."
Ise smiled, "Oh really. Well, I guess we should head to the docks."