The Finest Traditions Of The Service
"DAMAGE REPORT!" Mashiro yelled as she got to her feet. Looking around, she saw the entire Bridge had been demolished with the Bridge's roof completely gone, frames buckled, windows smashed to pieces and almost everybody dead and dying around her. "Captain!" Mashiro hurried to where Akeno was pinned to the deck by the chair she had been sitting in. Lifting it up, she got her friend and Captain to her feet.
"I told you I was not going to make it" she coughed. "Damage report"
"All Bridge personal except for ourselves are either dead or dying, the Bridge is wrecked and we've lost Helm control" Mashiro said quickly and precisely.
"See if you can raise Maron on the voice pipe" Akeno coughed badly as she leant against a shattered window frame.
"Engine Room, Bridge. Engine Room, come in Maron" Mashiro shook her head. "Something must have damaged it"
"Alright… Our main priority is regain Helm – lets get to emergency steering" Akeno said. "No… Wait…! Find two people who know morse to signal the fleet to continue their attacks on the enemy flagship at all costs"
"Bridge, Engine Room… Sorry for the late reply, but I've had to send all my staff here to help with damage" Maron's blessed voice came through the sole working voice pipe.
"Maron, me and Shiro are the only ones alive on the Bridge – the Helm has been smashed to pieces by enemy gunfire. Can you stop us from turning?"
"Afraid not… The rudder is completely jammed into a hard to port turn – take about three hours to solve"
"Do you have a torch?"
"Yeah"
"Then burn through the gears and cables – we need to get Helm control back. Shiro and I are going to try and get to the emergency steering room and navigate from there"
"Understood. Out"
"If anybody can hear me in the guns and torpedo launchers, this is Misaki. The Bridge has been disabled and we are going to steer from aft – all weapon emplacements are authorised for local firing on anything you like" Akeno looked at Shiro. "Lets get out of here" and they left the ruined Bridge. As they stumbled around, dodging the shell fire, they could see the immense damage their ship was taking – both of them knew they could not last long.
#
"My god…" Mina crossed herself from instinct as she saw the blazing hulk of the Harekaze steaming at top speed into the middle of the enemy fleet.
"Are we too late…?" Kouko asked in fear for the lives of her friends.
"I hope not" Mina replied as a look of determination passed over her face. "Radio room, signal all ships that we have arrived and tell the Spee to follow us. Helm, steer directly for the enemy flagship at flank speed. Gunnery Officer, engage" and the Bismarck's weapons roared out in anger as the turrets fired at anything still intact.
"Try and raise the Harekaze" Kouko ordered.
"Can't do it… Their radio must be damaged"
"Or destroyed" Kouko muttered. "Find out who is next in the chain of command and find out their status"
"Aye Aye"
"Prepare for torpedo action" Mina called, "Your target is the enemy vessel alongside the Harekaze – full warhead yield"
"Ma'am, the Harekaze is so close that the torpedoes might hit them instead" the young woman replied.
"Then you will have to make sure that they don't"
"Aye"
"Bridge, topside lookout"
"Go ahead" Mina took the call herself.
"Ma'am, I'm looking at the Harekaze and I don't think her main guns are firing anymore – A Turret is stuck facing for'ard and the others have barrels sticking up and down"
"Radio here… I'm picking up her automated distress beacon"
"Then her Bridge must have been destroyed…" Kouko whispered with fear. She tried to make out the area but couldn't because of the fire and smoke that clouded it.
"Bridge, Radar reporting – I have a ship that just appeared at a close range on my scope bearing 034"
"Can you identify it?"
"Identification beacon reports it is HMS Hood"
"Radio Room, is she close enough to raise on the short range?" Kouko asked.
"Affirmative"
"Then make contact and ask her intentions"
"No need… They are transmitting a message to us – patching it in"
"This is the Battleship HMS Hood to Japanese fleet – we acknowledge receipt of general distress call. Our guns are armed, ready and we are cleared for action… Moving in to engage"
"I am the Imperial Russian Naval Vessel Aurora – we stand ready to assist you"
"Richelieu has arrived with the French spirit"
"Good grief – where are all these ships coming from?" asked a crewmember.
"Deck there – sail off the port bow" somebody called down from the crow's nest.
"What the hell is that doing here? More to the point, how did it get here?" Mina asked – jaw dropping in disbelief.
"This is HMS Victory – we stand ready to assist you in your fight… We will enter cannon range in three minutes"
"They must be responding to the distress signals and call for assistance" Kouko commented with a shake of her head.
"All weapons, switch targets to whatever you like – fire at will" Mina said firmly. "No, wait… Have the Spee remain at this distance and engage enemy vessels. Helm, close the distance to the Harekaze. Torpedo officer, set warheads to arm the minute they launch"
"They could swing round and attack us"
"Understood" Mina dismissed her. "Kouko?"
"Yeah?" the other woman whispered as she thought about the carnage going through the ship.
"Form a boarding pa–"
"Harekaze has stopped her engines"
# # # # #
In the emergency steering position, the lights had failed and there was a sense of finality as the ship started to die. The vessel had shaken badly with a series of groans that spelt complete disaster for one and all.
"I've lost all power" Mashiro said in alarm.
"Maron, report"
"Ma'am" and Akeno and Mashiro looked at each other – only in exceptional circumstances did Maron talk like that. "All weapon systems are down, navigational systems are dark, and Harekaze is sinking... We can no longer fight the ship"
"No…" Akeno gripped the emergency steering wheel tightly – trying to block out the words that echoed through her mind.
"Captain" Mashiro sighed in defeat and gently touched Akeno's shoulder, "It's time" and Akeno nodded and hobbled over to the handset mounted on the bulkhead on the right side of the compartment.
"Maron, stop both engines" she clicked the phone to the all over the ship channel. "All hands, this is the Captain. Abandon Ship without delay. Securing and Salvage detail, Abandon Ship. All hands, Abandon Ship"
"I'll help you to a boat"
"No… Shiro, this is what I meant earlier when I said I wasn't going to make it out of here"
"Don't be silly – I'll help you to get off"
"Shiro, the other ships in the enemy fleet are protecting their flagship – I'm going to ram it and detonate all remaining magazine stores at the same time. Nothing of this ship will survive bigger than a matchbox"
"I let you face this once before by yourself… I am not going to let you do this again" and the two women came to an understanding.
"Very well, Deputy Captain… Man your station"
"Aye, Captain" Mashiro saluted and took the wheel.
"Engine Room evacuated" Maron called up.
"Right, over the side" said Akeno as she coughed up blood.
"Akeno… I know what you are planning on doing – the engines will automatically shut down if you try to overclock them without somebody to stop it"
"You know we're all going to die"
"Maybe they'll name a school after me" Maron chuckled grimly. "Steering, Engine Room… Engine Room is ready in all respects"
"Thank you, Chief Engineer, for all the hard work you have done for me now and in the past"
"The privilege was mine, Captain"
"And it was an honour to serve with the both of you" Mashiro shouted so Maron could hear.
"The last boat has been launched" Maron said quietly.
"Very well" Akeno straightened herself and brushed some debris off her tattered clothes. "Full ahead both engines – activate plan DCO. Deputy Captain, steer directly for the enemy flagship and aim the bow to impact midships"
"Full ahead both – flank speed indicated"
"Course set" and a few seconds passed as Akeno and Mashiro looked at each other. A few seconds later, the sound of running feet made Akeno smile as Maron arrived.
"I'm here" she said.
"What are you doing?" asked Mashiro as she looked at Maron in confusion.
"Stopping you from making a terminal error" Akeno said and hit her with a fast acting drug to knock her out. "Get a boat inflated and toss her over the side quickly… I'm going to need your help in steering"
#
"Collision course has been set" Maron said, "I think we have about two minutes"
"Good" Akeno winced as she picked up her battered and dirty officer's cap. "Help me to get back up topside – I want to die on my own Bridge"
"I'd like to join you" Maron said quietly and the two women stumbled as quickly as they could over bodies and debris to stand on the ruined Bridge. As they surveyed the bodies and the almost completely burnt out compartment, they could see the looming shape of the Montana off their bow. "I didn't realise she was so big…" Maron said quietly.
"This is Captain Akeno Misaki to all vessels…" the dying woman fished out the docking radio she had been carrying around for hours. "The Harekaze is severely damaged and out of control we will crash in approximately two minutes… I intend to go down with my command. Akeno out"
#
"…nd to go down with my command. Akeno out".
"Please… No…" Kouko begged in a vain plea. She watched as the new arrivals got really stuck in with Richelieu and Aurora firing their main weapons at the Iowa class ships and the Hood and Victory pounding the Montana with their combined firepower – even if it was oddly funny to see a sailing vessel firing cannon shells at one of the most powerful ships afloat. The American ship, however, managed to get away by having the Iowa class ships cover its withdrawal but made a poor executed change of course.
#
"She's trying to make a turn" Maron said, "But her rudder is damaged"
"We have to smash into her midships area"
"Well steer her" Maron gestured to the broke wheel.
"It works?"
"My few remaining girls managed to get the wheel restored to up here. The Harekaze will answer to her Helm"
"Maron…" Akeno gripped the splintered wheel tightly in her grip, "It might not mean much now, but I need a Deputy Captain"
"Me..? I mean… It would mean a great lot to me" Maron whispered. "I always guessed I would stick with engines and never get a command level assignment"
"Then let the record show that Maron Yanagiwara has been appointed Deputy Captain of the IJN Harekaze by order of the Fleet Commander" Akeno winced as she drew herself to attention. "Deputy Captain, assume your post"
"Assume my post - Aye, Aye, Captain" Maron came to attention and saluted. It was not something she normally did, Mashiro preferring to let it slide after all the years they served together, but she felt that Akeno deserved the formality even if they were the only two left alive on the ship. "Ma'am, all remaining crew members have evacuated the ship, scuttling and demolition charges have been placed and armed, engines have been rigged to overload… The ship reports ready for sailing, Captain"
"Very good, Deputy Captain. Set engines ahead full – damage acceptable" Akeno said.
"Engine ahead full… Engines report full ahead both" Maron replied.
#
"Ma'ams… Harekaze is powering up" Mina and Kouko looked up from where they were helping survivors get onto the Bismarck. "They must have set the helm into a ramming course before abandoning the ship"
"You!" Kouko rounded on somebody wearing an engineering outfit.
"Yes?"
"How many got off the Harekaze?"
"Those that were still alive… I think maybe fifty of us or so"
"Where are the senior officers?"
"Bridge was destroyed… Maybe the Chief is out there somewhere waiting to be picked up. I think that some of them might have survived near the Bridge, but that area took a lot of damage – I doubt anybody made it without some sort of injury"
"Alright – go below and get medical help"
"Aye, Aye" and the girl passed cleaned away in a faint.
"Get me a boat ready – I'm going to board and try to get Maron off"
"Coco, sweetheart… I don't think she is on there alone" Mina held Kouko who ran into her arms and sobbed. As she spoke, torpedoes struck the starboard side of the enemy flagship multiple times. "Gufran is here… Better late than never"
"If he had got here quicker…" Kouko found she could not finish the bitter criticism.
"I know" Mina looked around at the crew. "Get everybody below and have those injured treated well" she ordered before the pair of them rushed up to the Bridge.
#
"Captain, permission to engage primary target"
"We have weapons?" Akeno was surprised.
"We've got thirty rounds in the forward auto loaders" Maron said.
"Prepare to open fire with automatic systems" Akeno gripped the broken wheel as she took a moment to steady herself and started to spin the wheel. "Deputy Captain, hoist all remaining Battle Ensigns"
"Aye" Maron used a pen knife to cut wires holding the huge flags which rose to the tops of snapped and bent flagpoles. "Captain, gun batteries report they are cleared for action"
"Open fire…"
#
"REPORT!" Kouko called out as she came into the room first and heard the sounds of gunfire over the sounds of the larger fight.
"Harekaze has reengaged with her armament" a crewman said.
"Bridge, lookout. Harekaze has hoisted her Battle Ensigns" and everyone could see that the mortally wounded vessel was flying every possible flag it could as it blazed from stem to stern.
"Guns and torpedoes, standby to fire" but Mina felt the added command was more or less unneeded. Torpedoes from Gufran's submarine seemed to be coming in at a rapid pace and Mina and Kouko could only assume he was firing one by one. Hood and Aurora combined their firepower to give the Montana something else to shoot back at whilst Richelieu had split her batteries to firing on the smaller destroyers and cruisers with back up from the few remaining combat worthy Japanese vessels. Victory, meanwhile, had decided to pick a fight with a trio of Clemson class vessels and had dropped boats into the water to form boarding parties and seize them as Prizes.
#
The Harekaze was fully on fire from stem to stern with smaller munitions cooking off and making small explosions which could be heard over the distance between it and all the other ships. The entire vessel was falling apart at the seams but was holding together for one last effort as seemingly her three most senior officers worked together. With a painful and horrifying lurch to starboard, she swung round to the right and surged forwards… The crew of the Montana tried everything to blow the Harekaze out of the water but it was no good – the dying ship held on to life for just long enough as to see her final mission through. She smashed at full speed through the armoured belt of the enemy vessel and cut through the hull like a hot knife through butter. With the engines pushing the mortally wounded vessel deeper still and pushing through to the other side, the Harekaze exploded as her remaining fuel and ammunition stores detonated – destroying herself and setting off multiple explosions from the enemy vessel. Both ships had huge fireballs ripping through them all over the placeand, when it dispersed, the old warship was nothing but almost vaporised debris whilst the opposing vessel had broken its back and both pieces pointed upwards and started down as crew members jumped over the side. The fighting seemed to halt for a moment as the sound echoed over the water and everyone took a moment to gaze upon the sight.
"Helm, all ahead full" Kouko felt rage fill every fibre of her being as she spoke. "Guns and torpedoes, together, target both sections and engage…" she spat out the last word as icily as anyone had ever heard her speak before. Bismarck swung round to her helm as the guns roared out.
"Ma'am, torpedoes ready for launch. I have enemy crewmembers in the water that will get harmed from concussion waves"
"Torpedo officer, did I or did I not order you to fire?"
"Deputy Captain, they will be killed!" the woman protested.
"Marine of the Guard!" Kouko snapped out, "Take this officer to her cabin and confine her there until further notice" she picked up the phone and punched the right number. "This is a direct order – all torpedoes open fire" and soon both sections of the Montana were filled with holes and the stern went to the bottom of the ocean.
"Helm, all back full" Mina said bitterly, "Stop both engines… Send the boats back to pick up survivors for treatment and tr–" she would have said more but the Hiro surged at something well past flank speed and hurling her main forward batteries into the bridge of the still floating bow section. At this distance, the Bridge crew on the Bismarck could see Tama and Mei with looks of utter destruction and death as they directed fire into the already ruined hull. Gufran's submarine fully surfaced and lent a hand by shooting with its deckgun and, together, they killed every last person that remained on the Montana's Bridge before ceasing their pure hate as the bow section filled with water and slipped below the surface of the water.
# # # # #
"This" said Mei to Tama, "Is really going to upset some people"
"I don't care" Tama replied. "I have lost my Captain and my friend… Personally, I wish I could have sunk and killed every last one of them"
"We certainly did that on Montana's Bridge section" Mei said coldly.
"I know" Tama shook her head and then looked over at the radio operator. "Send this at once"
"Aye, Ma'am"
"And Sparks?"
"Captain?"
"Send it Priority One on the emergency channel and send it in the clear"
"Clear?"
"Those are my orders, please carry them out"
"Aye, Aye, Ma'am"
FROM: IJN HIRO
TO: IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVAL HEADQUARTERS, IMPERIAL JAPANESE GOVERNEMENT, YOKASURA GIRLS MARINE HIGH SCHOOL
MESSAGE BEGINS:
ALL ENEMY WARSHIPS DESTROYED OR SCUTTLED – MULTIPLE DEAD, DYING AND INJURED ON BOTH SIDES. SEVEN OF OUR SHIPS DESTROYED. IJN HAREKAZE DESTROYED IN FINAL RAMING OF USS MONTANA.
CAPTAINS MISAKI, MUNETANI AND YANAGIWARA WENT DOWN WITH THE SHIP.
IT SAYS A LOT WHEN IT FALLS TO THE YOUNG TO FIGHT BATTLES.
IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE IJN ARE COWARDS
SHIMA TATEISHI,
OFFICER COMMANDING
IJN HIRO
#
The remaining class members gathered in the Hiro's wardroom and just tried to come to terms with what had happened. Their former class leader, deputy class leader and Chief Engineer had all died. Tama had taken command of the remaining vessels and directed that the other ships patch up their damage, arrest the enemy crews that still lived, treat their wounded and return to port – along with those American ships that still floated as they were now treated as prizes of war although the Maikaze had fired all of her remaining torpedoes into the floating hulks of the Iowa class ships to send them to the bottom before departing on Tama's orders. The French and Russian ships had departed for their home ports whilst Victory had somehow managed to take several vessels as Prizes of War and had transferred most of their crews to the Hood for security before the little group had departed for Singapore. Hiro, however, remained on station with Bismarck and Graf Spee slowly cruising around the debris field looking for any sign of their fallen comrades.
"It's been over six hours, Tama" Mei said, "I think we have to realise the fact they were vaporised when the Harekaze went up. They had all gathered in the Hiro's wardroom because the friends and shipmates needed comfort from one another and, sadly, they had nowhere else to go…
"I just don't want to leave them without searching completely" Tama replied sadly, "But you are right. Inform the Bridge we will make one more pass before returning to port – have the Radio Room inform Bismarck of our intentions"
"Sure" Mei shrugged.
"Captain" Tama took the call herself when the phone buzzed.
"Starboard lookout… I have a small lifeboat that's not inflated correctly bearing 045"
"Very good" and she clicked a different button. "Bridge, this is the Captain… Helm, slow ahead both… Steer 045. Deck crew, launch a boat to investigate"
"Starboard lookout reporting… I can see a woman in the lifeboat – she's got black hair and is wearing a gold chain on her right shoulder"
"We're on our way to the deck" Tama said and hung up the phone. "They've found a girl wearing gold lace on her right shoulder"
"That must be Mashiro!" Mei said and she led the charge out the room and to the deck with the others following right behind her.
#
"How is she?" asked Hime, looking through the window of the hospital.
"She is in good shape, but with some small fractures and heavy bruising" Minami gave her report methodically. "Her blood also shows signs of infection which we have treated and an unknown cocktail which acted as a fast acting knock out"
"The fools… Those brave idiotic fools" Tama shook her head in understanding.
"What?" asked Mikran.
"The Captain must have been injured badly and knew she couldn't make it for long" Minami explained. "I believe either she or the Chief Engineer injected her with the fast acting drug before tossing the lifeboat overboard and then her along with it. They stayed aboard to make sure she rammed the Montana in the right place before detonating her fuel and ammunition stores – taking that bastard with her" the Doctor said.
"We found the Harekaze's logbook and recorders" Kouko said. "They will need decrypting when we put in, but I suspect that we'll find out what was happening just before they rammed and scuttled"
"Excuse me" a young officer held a clipboard with a short note attached to it. "Captain, this has come through on the priority circuit" and Tama took the note and read it.
"It's an order to return to harbour and face a Court Martial for our actions here" she said. "Well, they can certainly do that for people staying in, but not for me" Tama looked at the officer who was waiting for a reply. "Find the Deputy Captain and have her report to the Bridge and wait for me there"
"Yes, Ma'am" and she hurried away.
"I've decided I don't want to do this anymore" Tama explained.
"Neither do I" Mei said quietly and the others agreed. "Radio Room, this is the Captain. Transmit the message you have hold of and then hand deliver the reply to me on the Bridge"
#
The reply came rather quickly and Tama took it, read through the message carefully and handed it to her friends to consider.
"Signal the Bismarck and Graff Spee that we are getting underway. Helm, both engines ahead full for Kure – steer 310"
"Both engines ahead full – steering 310"
"Deputy Captain, please come to attention. In my hand, I have an order to return to harbour and face trial for stealing the Hiro and joining Captain Misaki in her mission. I do not agree with this after all we have done for the country. Therefore, my friends and I have resigned our places with the Navy and with the Blue Mermaids. Accordingly, you are now elevated to the rank of Acting Captain"
"Aye, Aye, Ma'am" the Deputy Captain saluted. "I relieve you, Captain"
"I am relieved" Tama returned the salute, held it for five seconds, dropped it and then followed her friends down to the Sickbay to await Mashiro's waking up from the operations she had just had.
# # # # #
Hiro moved slowly up the channel, declining the use of offered tugs, and shadowed by the Graf Spee as Mina had transferred her flag to her old ship and detached Bismarck, the more damaged of the two German vessels, with orders to proceed to Seadler Base and then for home. As two proceeded, Mina ordered black flags to be flown from all jacks and the national ensign put to half-mast with the same for the Japanese ensign at the courtesy flag jack. Whilst Hiro's crew were still repairing damage and saving lives at this late stage in the journey, the Spee's crew had made a show of loading all weapons platforms and then parading along the sides – firing an empty salvo as they passed the defensive fortifications in salute and to 'prove' their weapons were unloaded. An hour later, Spee stood off in the bay as Hiro moved alongside the pier and moored up. The dead and wounded came off first before Mashiro, wearing a full dress uniform with sword and medals, came down the gangplank with her friends – to be met by a party of military police and senior officers.
"You will all come with us" the leader of the MPs said.
"They have resigned from the Navy and the Blue Mermaids – you can not arrest civilians" Mashiro sighed.
"We certainly can, Captain" the leader said.
"No, you can not. You will have to apply to the courts for the ability to detain them for questioning overseen by civilian police" Mashiro said and then turned to the Admiral waiting for them and came to attention and saluted him. "Sir, as the Port Admiral of Kure, I hereby surrender to you"
"I accept your surrender, Captain" the elderly Admiral replied and returned the salute. "You will go with the MPs to quarters pending the writing of charges against you. Some of your message from Hiro was garbled due to unknown electromagnetic fields… Where is the Harekaze?"
"She rammed the USS Montana which was carrying a new type of bomb, Admiral. She was blazing from stem to stern, her weapons were down and she was sinking by the bow. I was… knocked out at the end, but from what I was told Harekaze rammed right into the middle of the Montana, cutting through all of her armour and decks before scuttling by detonating her munitions and fuel stores – she was almost completely vaporised. The full account is in my report, Admiral"
"I see… Where are Captain Misaki and Captain Yanagiwara?"
"Still aboard, Sir… They fell at their Action Stations" Mashiro replied and handed the Admiral a small container containing locks of hair wrapped up in the ribbons that Akeno and Maron often wore. "This was found in the lifeboat with me. Inside was a note explaining they left some of their hair so there would be something to bury"
"I see…" the Admiral almost seemed to be crying. "Captain, I must ask for your sword"
"Admiral, this is not my sword… It is merely borrowed in order for me to report formally to you"
"You do not have your personal sword?"
"No, Sir… It is in my quarters aboard the Defender"
"Very well" the Admiral shook his head sadly. "You will go with the MPs and be confined to base quarters until charges can be officially drawn up"
"Actually" Minami said, "As her attending Doctor, I certify that she is unfit to be confined to quarters – she needs medical attention before that happens"
"Very well…" the Admiral turned to one of his aides. "Commander, escort the Captain to the base hospital and report to me from there. Dismiss"
#
Despite many people, including her mother, begging her not to do so, Mashiro insisted on a full Court Martial so everything she knew was on the record. She had been offered a discharge on medical grounds, but the woman point blank refused and insisted on a full trial by Command Level members so that the entire country knew what had happened and that the Navy had acted dishonourably. Questions and testimonies took almost a full three weeks before the Court Martial panel retired to make its decision. When Mashiro was escorted back in, two hours afterwards, the first thing she did was look at the table she had placed her sword on – it was pointing away from her. Inwardly, she let herself relax just a little as she knew she would at least not be going to jail.
"Having weighed up all the evidence presented to me and considering all the testimony given in this court room, I find Mashiro Munetani guilty on all the charges and specifications but direct that there is to be no punishment" the Port Admiral said to gasps and whispers of confusion. "Whilst she organised the gathering of naval and Blue Mermaid forces to essentially mutiny, she was acting in the best traditions of the country and of the service. Despite passing on vital information, the Imperial Navy decided to have all of its assets as well as its contribution to the Blue Mermaid security forces return to home waters to await the rogue forces of the American navy. This was a mistake that cost countless lives on both sides and almost resulted in the destruction of our nation and of our people from a terrible weapon that would destroy all life. It is possible that those who issued the orders were paid by the Americans to stop our fleets from going out to stop the attackers… Knowing that she could not do it alone, Captain Munetani asked for help from her friends and fellow sailors to defy direct orders and go out and meet the enemy fleet before it could get within range to use this weapon" the elderly male put down his papers and looked around before settling his gaze on Mashiro. "What you did, young lady, is some of the bravest actions I have ever seen in my life. We should also commend the actions of those people lost in the fighting to save our country and especially Captains Misaki and Yanagiwara. Captain Munetani, you are dismissed with this Court's thanks for your dedication and devotion to duty. Court Martial dismissed!"
# # # # #
As she left the court, Mashiro was handed a sealed envelope with instructions to read it to her remaining classmates. They gathered together to celebrate the life and death of Akeno and Maron where Mashiro took the little podium and read the contents.
"After the end of the Court Martial, I was given this by a crewmember from the Hiro. It's a hand written note by His Imperial Majesty addressed to all of us that made it through this incident" Mashiro spat out the final word in disgust. She, as well as a number of other senior Blue Mermaid and Imperial Navy officers, had argued they should declare a formal state of war against the United States in retaliation of their unprovoked attack upon Japanese lives and islands. "I shall read it to you now…
Crew of the Harekaze Class... It's been a long war, it's been a tough war. You have fought bravely, proudly, for your country. You are a special group who found in one another a bond that exists only in combat among comrades. You have held each other in dire moments. Have seen death and suffered together. You should be proud to have served with each other to the same amount as I have prise in you being my subjects. You deserve long and happy lives in peace. For their final and greatest sacrifice, I have ordered shrines to be set up dedicated to Captain Misaki and Captain Yanagiwara.
BANZAI!"
#
After all had settled, Mashiro returned to the sea for a few more years before taking a very early separation and got her old classmates and friends together. She raised her children and sent them to the best schools possible, taught them everything she knew and said that she would be proud with whatever choices they made. Still in her early thirties, Mashiro found herself travelling to a meeting of the surviving classmates and friends in Tokyo as they tried to do every year at least once. As she walked up the steps to the meeting room, Mashiro saw Gufran walking inside and a new wave of regret came over her as she remembered Maron telling her that this would be her last sea going job for a while because she and Gufran were expecting their first child together.
"Mashiro!" Mei bounced over and hugged her tightly. A wave of hugs were exchanged before Momo stood and asked for quiet which she got very quickly.
"Deputy Captain" she began with a slight grin because only her friends got to call her that, "We'd like you to join us in sailing the seas again"
"I gave that up" Mashiro shook her head.
"We're not asking you to return to the services" Momo replied, "But to lead us in place of the Captain. You must know that pirate activity is getting more and more, so we thought about entering that business"
"I'm not a pirate" Mashiro frowned.
"Kind of thinking the other way" Mei took over. "A lot of older ships are being sold off, mostly the worn out ones, but some good ships are going to be broken up. We thought about buying one of them and doing it up so we can sail with high value targets to give them protection" and Mashiro thought it over.
"I have my children to look after"
"Mashiro, they go to a boarding school… Besides, we'd only be away for a week or two every month because we'd be very selective about what we do. We'd like for you to be the Captain in place of Akeno"
"Sailing around and defeating pirates all sounded such a great adventure to her…" Mashiro smiled. "Alright, I will do it. What sort of ship are we looking at and what do we need to do?"
"We're thinking a destroyer because we're used to that type, but maybe slightly smaller than the Harekaze due to numbers" Hime spoke up. "As for the work, Kaede's father has promised us free use of his shipyards whenever we need it for repairs and resupplying… He said it is his way of paying a debt that can never be paid"
"What do you mean?"
"Despite the damage we took on Yamato, we brought his daughter's body home for burial"
"I see… Well, I guess we have a ship to purchase, man and store"
"Aye Aye, Captain" they all replied.
"You know" Mei spoke quietly to Mashiro as they made for the door, "They say Kawano was found dead in his cell three days ago"
"Really?" Mashiro raised an eyebrow, "I'm sure an investigation will find his killer"
"Was it you, Shiro?"
"No" Minami coldly said from behind them, "It wasn't her…"
# # # # #
The ship, originally supposed to be a destroyer, turned out to be the Hyūga – a failed attempt a blimp carrier where all of the blimps sat ready for use on the outside deck. When tests proved unfeasible, it was slated to be sent for scrap but purchased by the newly formed Misaki Yanagiwara Corperation, named after Akeno and Maron. They purchased as many parts as possible, restored the weapons systems and overhauled the engines to give it a second chance at serving the seas. In addition, given the amount of space below the so called 'flight deck', they got a number of older model blimps to use as cargo lifters so that they could carry their own cargo in addition to escorting other vessels from pirate attacks. Whilst they would never sail on an actual job with the remaining classmates, Mashiro's two children helped in their own way by being given pots of paint and given free rein to paint some of the shared areas such as the Mess Hall, Lounge, the B Deck portside toilet and Sickbay. They'd also been allowed to choose the colour of the blimps and went for pink on the basis that you can't lose anything that's pink.
"Are we ready to go?" asked Mashiro as she took the bridge of the Hyūga for her first operational trip as an escort vessel.
"The Harbour Master reports we are clear to depart" Mei said.
"Very good. Cast off mooring ropes fore and aft, ring on main engines, right standard rudder and slow ahead both" Mashiro said. For the first time in over twenty years, she felt odd to be on the bridge of a ship and yet not in a naval uniform but put it down to being a civilian now. Like the others, she had elected to wear a navy blue jumper, white shirt, black trousers and black boots – very much in the English officer style. Momo and Hime had come up with a sort of dress uniform that were pretty much business suits but with rank insignia on the cuffs. With regards to crewing the Hyūga, Tama, in addition to being the torpedo officer, was appointed as Executive Officer with the rest of the crew taking up posts as close to what they had left. There were some new faces amongst the group, but mainly amongst the Engineering staff as the friends were able to man everything else – Akeno had long ago drilled them on manning all the different positions just in case and it served them well now. Besides, not all of the positions on the Hyūga needed to be filled, so some parts of the ship were closed off and sealed with the watertight bulkheads closed.
"Mooring ropes detached" Tama said. Mashiro was disturbed from her thinking and looked over at her friend before nodding sharply.
"Sora, how are looking?" she called down to the engine room. Maron's deputy had been made Chief Engineer because Maron would have liked it and the friends really didn't want somebody new to change the way they worked.
"Maron would have said the engines are purring like a kitten"
"And what about you?"
"I was purring like a kitten last night, but what I do at my club is another matter, Captain"
"Just keep things together" Mashiro shook her head as she realised both Akeno and Maron would have been laughing at that comment.
"We always do"
"We have cleared the berth" Tama called as she leaned over the port Bridge wing.
"Wheel amidships – steer 225 and go to half ahead on the engines" Mashiro ordered and then blew the ship's siren three times in the traditional manner to let all around them known they were underway. Half an hour later, they were out at sea…
"We are clear and free to navigate" Minami said. In addition to her ordinary duties as Doctor, she was also their occasional Helmsman because not many wanted to replace Rin or Akeno herself on it. She wouldn't normally have been up there on the Bridge, but she expressed a desire to pilot a vessel out of harbour at least once.
"Very well… Navigation, plot me a course for Indonesia"
"Aye… Making calculations now… Recommend course 267"
"Minami, 267 – ahead cruising speed"
"Steering 267" the Doctor replied as she spun the wheel, "Engines to cruising" and Mashiro hoped Akeno and Maron would look down on her with pride as she took care of their remaining class members.
"Steady as she goes…" the woman ordered "Steady as she goes…" she whispered. Safe and on a mission of peace, Hyūga sailed on with an experienced crew at her Helm…
"Bridge, Radio Room – we're picking up a distress call from a merchant vessel about thirty miles away. They report they have struck some kind of mine and are taking on water – they estimate eleven minutes until they go under"
"Do you have a location?"
"Yes" and the radio operator passed on the coordinates.
"Minami, steer 110 – all engines ahead flank. Turn the wheel over to Mei and then get sickbay ready" Mashiro turned to the intership phone. "All hands, this is the Captain, prepare to receive casualties. Engineering department, be ready to board and contain the flooding. Captain, out"
"Akeno and Maron would be proud" Tama said quietly.
"Yes" Mashiro replied, looking up at the pictures of all their fallen friends and classmates, "I do believe they would…". The pictures were something that she'd decided on which was a sentimental gesture on her point and showed their family would always be with them. Each of them had an individual photograph before the middle picture was of all of them after coming back from their first cruise together as a crew – plainly evident as Kouko was pictured with them and wearing the naval high school uniform.
"Captain, Helm is steady on course 110" Tama reported.
"Understood"
"Radio room… The merchant vessel is reporting they are sinking but they have steerage ability – they are going to close the distance with us"
"Acknowledged. Sora, I need more speed"
"I can give you flank speed for ten minutes – the engines were not meant to go so fast this quick after refitting"
"I will try not to anger our Engine Room demon" Mashiro gripped her glasses.
#
The merchant vessel sank, but the passengers and crew were rescued thanks to the training and skill of the Hyūga's crew. From up above, Akeno watched them along with Maron as they launched rescue boats and got everybody off and managed to save a good majority of the cargo.
"You know" Akeno said with a smile, "I think we did good with them"
"Aye" Maron replied with a shake of her head, "Hyūga is in safe hands now. We taught them to live and sail on the sea after all"
"That" said another figure as it materialised beside them, "Was something we used to say as children, wasn't it Mike?" and Akeno's head snapped round like a bullet.
"Moeka…?"
A/N:
And that brings the final chapter of the final part of the Hide And Seek arc to a close. It has been a pleasure to write for it, and I do hope that you have enjoyed this final chapter as much as the other two and the three stories together.
Before anybody points it out as an error, Maron held the rank of Captain but not the position of Captain – something very common in the Navies of the world.
If there is anything you want to ask, feel free to ask in your Reviews and I'll try to get through as many as possible.
Regards,
Pixel and Stephanie