The admiral dreamed of the sea and his time outside training, he watched the ocean with respect and love, as he considers it another home of his. He was really tired so he didn't wake up early as he used to. After taking a bath and change into a new uniform he goes outside just to realize there was no one around. He was expecting to see those two destroyers running around or something, but after a visit to Mamiya, he finds them helping her with the food.
After exchanging a few words everyone ate, Akashi arrived a minute later and she took a seat next to the admiral, much to his surprise. It appears that this simple fact, made the room feel heavy and mute, as very few things were said when everyone was eating, a few laughs here and there but maybe they were a bit forced.
He realized this weird aura around him, so after he finish, he was grateful for the food. He smiled to the girls that helped in the kitchen and left the place saying no more. He was indeed grateful that both Murakumo and Hatsuharu learned their lesson, however he didn't give them orders for now, to let them rest for a while.
As of it, he got time to do and inspect other parts of the base that he didn't got the time to look at. He realized that there was a construction site that was half finished, perhaps it was on purpose to use this place as an expansion if he got the time and resources in the future. There were other empty rooms and small storages here and there.
But as time flows he realized that some other girl should arrive at the base, so before that could happen, he would wait for her at the south dock.
It wasn't that of a long road yet the view was something to look at again now that he was alone. After walking past the hill, the admiral entered a path of stone that leads to the south of the island. This part of the isle is full of rocks and trees, at first sight it wouldn't look so strange but the eerie sounds that sometimes can be heard around the area can make anyone want to run all the road.
-I wonder if this place looks like a horror movie set in the night - The admiral thinks out loud, as there wasn't any kind of animal or bird around. He had never believed in the ghost stories or the idea that some kind of monsters would appear to kill you, yet the abyssal are kind of monstrous beings that attack without any provocation… so he imagined himself like some kind of hero who would defeat the evil monsters of this world. It was a bit childish way of looking the world.
At the distance between the trees a big space can be seen. The dock where he first arrive is quite large, with a supply storage next to it limited by the seawall around the dock. It has only one entrance but the size is large enough for two ships. There the man waited for the expected arrival.
It wasn't long for him to distinguish a lonely figure at the distance, it appears that again HQ could only send one girl to his aid, but he was already accustomed by now. As the distance between this ship and the dock shortens he could realize she was a black haired girl with glasses, she was dressed up in a uniform that resembles that of Akashi. She didn't have an outfit yet she was riding the water without any difficulty, even when she is towing a really big container.
When that girl looked at the admiral waiting for her she slowed her speed just to arrive gracefully and right in time. It was amazing how she tow away the container an even lead it to the supply storage.
-Good morning commander- She was pretty serious right after she arrived. She walks onto the dock and introduce herself.
-Admiral, Light Cruiser Ooyodo has joined the battle lines. Please leave the fleet administration and supervision to me- She salute again as a sign of respect to the officer in the island.
-Nice to meet you Ooyodo, I hope you can find this place comfortable and help me with this new base- The admiral answers with joy as he realizes that now someone will be able to help him with all the papers and messages from the naval base.
-Yes. Please leave it to me- She told again with a compromised attitude.
-But now, let me take the package that was sent for you- she bow and went to the supply room alone.
-I wonder…- The admiral think fast about the way she gets into the storage as if already knowing the place.
-Hey let me help you- The man walked behind her but its stopped by her at the entrance.
-No need to worry about it, they are just a few supplies. Four boxes of ammunition, three barrels of fuel and ten bars of steel, also there are five development materials- She smiles and bow, then enters the room alone. The admiral watches from the door and realize that there is a crane inside that already picked the cargo, perhaps this is an automated part of the base.
-However I need this for this base- She walked next to the container and open it quite easily, even if the metal bars look quite rusty. She checks the inside and pull out a small box, a container and a bag. Then she shows the admiral what was inside.
-Is it some kind of radar or a communication device? - he is surprised by the look of it. It's a small steel rectangle that contain a screen and many wires, like its supposed to be attached to something else.
-It´s an experimental device Admiral. You are really lucky to be able to test this new prototype. From what I was told, its suppose to let real-time tracking and communication, an amazing and complex device that encrypts spoken messages at such speed that there will be no real need of using a code- She explains and packs up all in the bag, then take it with her and both leave the storage.
-Sounds amazing… yet I guess that's why they send it here- The man immediately felt kind of sad of his own position and the base real purpose.
-What do you mean Admiral? - Ooyodo ask in wonder what he meant.
-You see there are no abyssal in near waters and also this is a renewed base, so it's almost empty with no real fire power at the moment- The admiral felt pain in those words, as they are more like a supply base.
-I already know that, don't take me by a fool please- The girl touches her glasses and look remarkably mad.
-I'm sorry I didn't try to offend you- He didn't know that at all, until now most people didn't acknowledge the base as a real one.
-Admiral please I'm not offended, it's my job to know this much- She seemed to accept his apology, but still she thinks high of herself and the job she does best.
-Ooyodo, you are not a fighter type right? - The admiral attacked fast with an obvious question, as she didn't get at the island with an outfit of hers.
-What?... Of course I'm capable of combat, but for now I wasn't commanded to do so. But I'm a real fighter you will see… someday- She got embarrassed of herself yet suddenly remembered the battle she was in the past, so a feeling of proud fill her.
-Fine, you really seem to be reliable- The admiral said with honesty, as she is the first one that actually looks really serious of her job and what she will do in the base.
-Thanks- She nods accepting his compliment. Both the admiral and Ooyodo were now on the stairs, and again the atmosphere of these part of the island give a small shiver to the girl.
-By the way, you already knew how to use the supply storage… Perhaps you already knew this base before- The admiral asked based on how she could easily manage her arrival and the way that supply storage works.
-I did- She answers fast trying to cut the conversation, but it's not possible.
-How was it? … I mean before the attack- The man was curious about the life in the base before the attack, perhaps the people that live here and even the admiral that was stationed before him.
-I only got here once, to bring an appointment and a letter of classified missions- She answer in a serious way, as she remembers a bit of what happened that day and how it changed since then.
-It was a lively place full of people, I didn't pay attention to the small details but I guess it was a good place to be… Well until then- She said and realize how it really has changed from that day, because this part of the islands was full of life, she saw birds and even bunnies running through the bushes… yet now only rocks and sick looking trees remains.
-I see; I guess what happened here will remain a mystery to me- The man was kind of disappointed, not because of her, but that only rumors exist about the island. All about it remains classified, even its true name, so only the "H" remains in the anchorage.
-Everyone in the marine knows about this place Admiral. The ghost anchorage is a popular story you know? Never have been such a massive attack against a single place like the one that happened here. I still remember that day, the radars went crazy, as if all the sea wanted to engulf this place, I was at the headquarters when all happen…- Now as both got to the top of the stairs she started to tell her experience with a bit of sadness in her words.
-The number of abyssal units where off limits and there were unknown signals with them. We thought it was some kind of error from the machines, but they were telling the truth. When we realized this it was already too late, the superiors insisted that it was already a lost base, so no one was sent to help them, not a single ship set sail that day- she told those words with regret, because that day she insisted to send a fleet to rescue the survivors, even volunteered to go. But the people in charge thought it was suicide to fight that many abyssal at the same time, they even feared that this countless fleet could be enraged and attack the headquarters.
-I'm sorry I didn't know that- The man was on duty that day so until he got back, he heard the story.
-Don't worry, is better to know where you stand right? - She tried to smile but it was hard, knowing that the marine abandoned this base and let everyone die, well at least most of them.
-After the attack a team of workers was sent here. They sent an official report that said that there were no survivors at the place, only a fleet that was far of the base on an expedition at the moment of the rampage. They all were reassigned to different places afterwards. The marine tried to rebuild this place immediately however the first workers spread the rumor of strange shadows, eerie visions and a weird music that sometimes could be heard at night. Also the continuous presence of abyssal patrolling these waters was another big problem- she explained giving off most details of what happened the following days. She read some reports and the things written in them were of mad people, thinking of them as excuses to leave the island.
-So that's why no one wanted to be here at first- He knew that for some time people avoid this anchorage like the plague, even the routes that passed through here were changed in order to round the island.
-I guess the story of the ghost base spread fast, so no one dare to be sent here for a whole year, after that it appear that whatever was the reason for those weird events and the abyssal presence ceased- She finally ends her part of the story, explaining why so many people believed in those rumors. Both were now pretty close to the entrance of the base, so Ooyodo return to her serious attitude.
-Quite interesting- The man understood why this base condition was in perfect state, even if the construction labors ended long ago.
-Yes, but well commander, we should be doing our work from now on- She wanted to start working as fast as she can, just to forget about the fate of those who fall here.
-First I'll need an operational room and a communication one. I must install this new device soon- She explained and wait for the instructions, they were already on the gates of the base.
-I can help you, it's located in the central building- The man wanted to help again and new what that device was really capable of.
-Fine if you insist, but remember you are an admiral not a worker- She told him in a curious manner, until now no officers at headquarters were actually involved in labor and only check upon progress.
-I know, but I'm in charge of this base so this is also part of my job- The man adjust his hat and lead the way to the central building, where his office was located.
-I would appreciate your favor. You too are reliable- She nod and felt relieved. Both of them went to the building and the admiral opened the communication room, he saw its where logistics will be made, contains a map of the surround waters and a bigger one of the entire island. It's here where all the machines and communication systems are, and it can be operational.
-Let's start with this connection, I'll tell you what to do- Ooyodo went in and unpackaged the device. Then started to check upon the room to know exactly which components can be of use. The admiral followed her instructions, even if it was weird for her to be telling the admiral what to do, he didn't comply. So starting from a few tests to know if the machines worked properly, they start to calibrate the gadget. Even if it looked like an easy job, it actually took a pair of hours to finally work properly.
-Thanks for the hard work- Ooyodo was satisfied with how things developed, as the device already showed the first images of the surrounding areas in a digital map.
-By the way Ooyodo, do know what's the emergency at headquarters? I mean they sent me a letter about the short supply the can provide me at the moment- The admiral finally spit out what he got in mind from the beginning when she told him that she was reassigned directly from headquarters.
-There was a big commotion about a sudden change in the middle of the ocean. It changed the weather around it and is slowly increasing, so they are dispatching fleets and resources to those bases close to the origin of the anomaly- She explained the situation to the commander. In reality this emergency appeared out of nowhere and deeply concerned the high officers.
-I see, guess it's pretty serious for them to declare an emergency- The admiral understand why they should be calling it an emergency but it sounds a bit extreme for them to use so many resources on an atypical storm.
-More than you think admiral. No one knows if its related to the abyssal fleet in some way, but it seems that the waters around there are getting pretty dangerous. There was a shipment of supplies that got near it and disappeared- Ooyodo explained again in her serious manner, after all this is the last thing she knew before launching to this base. Still they were lucky there were no causalities thanks to the new automated supply transport lines.
-That sounds bad, hope is just a whirlpool or a small tempest- The admiral tried to think of the most common causes instead of thinking that the ones from the deep were involved.
-Me too, there are several frontline bases that could be struck by it. That means no planes, no ships and no communications if that storm reach them, they will be vulnerable- She said concerned again, because it's this kind of weather may lead to structure damage and resource loss. If any of those bases where attacked during the next day of the storm they would lose more than a few barrels.
-I wonder how long will it take for our flow of supplies and personnel normalizes…- The admiral was now concerned about how much will he have to wait, if this storm really hits those shores, all efforts will focus on rebuilding instead of fighting.
-Don't worry, they will have sent more ships so you can form your first fleet- Ooyodo repeat the instructions sent with her. Even in this state of emergency the navy would send six combat ships to island H.
-That's good to hear- The man got his hopes high again, so in the next days he will be able to get a true fleet.
-Well let's continue please, there are still more things to install- Ooyodo check the bag for more materials but someone interrupted her by knocking at the door.
-Uh? Admiral?... O-Ooyodo? - Akashi wanted to check upon the admiral but found someone she didn't expected to see here right next to the commander.
-Akashi? - The man was surprised by her sudden entrance.
-Akashi, good to see you again- Ooyodo smiled to her friend.
-Ooyodo I can't believe you were send here!... I mean you never wanted to leave headquarters- Akashi rushed into the room and hugged her much to her embarrass.
-That's not entirely true… I'm here right? - She felt happy to see her too, even if her enthusiastic personality haven't changed at all, she took a step back just to regain her personal space again.
-So you know each other? - The admiral was amazed at the two girls, he imagined most of them knew each other or at least worked together sometime.
-Of course Admiral we used to be together all the time until I was reassigned- Akashi explained her relationship with her, mostly perhaps both were not combatants for the time.
-Here let me show you the base, you must stay in the same place that me- Akashi took Ooyodo´s hand and started pulling her ignoring that they were still working on the device.
-Akashi can't you see I´m working? We must finish installing this device- Ooyodo suddenly stops like always thinking about her job first.
-Device? I can help you with it tomorrow, we have so much to talk. Right Admiral? - Akashi insisted smiling at the admiral and wink at him as if knowing already what he will do.
-Admiral?... Say something please! - Ooyodo wanted to have some reason to leave or to stay, depends on what the man would say.
-Don't worry you are dismissed- The commander was feeling really well now, knowing that soon he will have a true fleet, make his mind fly and didn't care much about the device for the moment, there were not enough ship girls to prove it anyway.
-Thank you very much! - Akashi took the girl with glasses by the arm and proceed to leave the room.
-Affirmative- Ooyodo felt suddenly happy, strangely because it's her first day at the base and already got a break, perhaps her choice was the best after all.
After both girls leave the communication room, the admiral went to his office to check upon the needs of the base.
-Well I guess I can eat something and then call it a day- He was relaxed now, and haven't eat anything all day, so after arranging some papers he went to Mamiya, ate something, talk with her for a while, both destroyers were still there, seems like both wanted to learn from her how to cook too for some reason. The day comes to an end and the man went off to his room, meditate for a while about the words of Ooyodo and the story of the island. Someday perhaps he will know the truth of what happen that day.