Chapter 11: Down South

Pennyslvania told her story next.

This took place a while back, during the early days of the war. Tennessee and I were sent down to Salvador, Brazil. SACom (South American Command) was planning to try and break through the Abyssal Mid-Atlantic fleet and reach Africa. If we could secure a passage from Brazil to Africa, than we could hopefully see some signs if the old world was still alive. While the African nations didn't have an extensive shipgirl pool from which to defend themselves, they would hopefully still be surviving in the interior of the continent. Command was also uncertain what the Abyssals might do if they overran large sections of the continent.

We arrived early. SACom wanted to make sure that the logistics were set up, so we had about a day to wait. We met the Minas Geraes first, the Brazilian flagship.

"You're the American battleships, right?"

"Yeah. I'm Pennsylvania, and this is Tennessee."

"Welcome to Brazil, friends! I know you won't be here for too long, but I hope you get a chance to enjoy our culture and hospitality. Speaking of, can I help you with your stuff?"

Tennie smiled. "Oh don't you mind this honey. It's just a small amount of clothing and my guitar."

"Oh please. You've come all the way from America. I'm sure you're tired from the trip. Let me carry it for you."

Oh no. It's a hospitality standoff. I turned to Tennie. "Please just let her carry it."

"Oh all right. If y'all insist."

XXX

After settling in, we decided to go out for a bit. It was nice out, warm with a cooling breeze. Tennie wanted to play some music and I wanted to read a book. It truly was lovely. We sat on a little bench, Tennie with her oak guitar, and myself with my book. Tennie began strumming her guitar while she looked at the book in my lap.

"It's Rabbit at Rest, by John Updike. It's a good, albeit old book. It's the last one in a four part series. It's good; it has a sort of blunt charm to it."

"Oh, nice. I've been trying to read The Widow of the South, but I haven't found the time."

"I know all about that. It's taken a lot of effort for me to be able to find the time to read a longer stuff like the Rabbit series."

"And when I do have time I prefer to play music, preferably outside on a nice day. Like today, just look at that evening sun. It's lovely."

A girl's voice came from behind the bench we were sitting in, "The sky is a sublime hue of orange and blue." We turned around and looked at her. She wore a long white and blue dress, and I could see a small book in her hands. "I assume that you two are the American battleships?"

"Yeah. I'm Pennsylvania, and this is Tennessee."

"As you may tell, I'm Rivadavia, the Argentine flagship." She walked over and sat on the bench with us. "I'm happy to get the opportunity to meet American shipgirls."

"I hope y'all aren't under too much pressure from the Abyssals."

"No, no. It's just, I was built in the US, or the old part of me was, and I would love to visit Massachusetts someday."

"Maybe Massachusetts will visit you first."

The girl seemed a bit confused.

"I mean, Massachusetts should be constructed before the year is out, so maybe she'll see you first."

Riva laughed. "That would be fun too."

XXX

Rivadavia was a lovely girl, and I enjoyed talking with her, but we came down to Brazil with a job to do, and our little break could only last so long.

The scientists back home had just developed the Utzuki-Quinlan process of adapting an ignition mechanism to allow conventional warheads to carry anti-Abyssal compound that was a lot more effective than older conventional warheads. Of course, it was still inefficient as hell, only igniting about 0.4% of the anti-Abyssal compound, but it would still be way more effective than old conventional warheads. The brass was very eager to test its effectiveness, so we were accompanied by a sizable conventional fleet. I think it was 3 destroyers and a guided missile submarine.

We departed with myself, Tennessee, Rivadavia, and Mines Geraes, along with a pair of light cruisers and like 6 destroyers, of mixed nationality. The conventional destroyers hung back, since they were still just as vulnerable as always.

Drones from the conventional destroyers discovered the main Abyssal fleet in the area first. We used them for accurate target data, so we got some good long range shots off. Us battleships rotated in pairs: me with Riva and Tennie with Minas. We did the initial fighting, but after a few minutes, the conventional ships started launching anti-Abyssal missiles. I'll be honest. I was pretty disappointed. Even the Abyssal destroyers took like eight big cruise missiles before they finally sank. The pair of Abyssal battleships took them with only minor damage, but even they had to stop fighting us to concentrate on the missiles, as they started to get overwhelmed. It gave us the opportunity for our destroyers to launch a spread of torpedoes that sunk them.

"Be advised fleet, this is Overwatch. Black Eyes has finished mid-air refueling, and is beginning operation. It has reached cruising speed of Mach 3.2"

"Holy shit," one of the Brazilian destroyers exclaimed, "What can even go that fast?"

Tennessee shouted gleefully, "SR-71 Blackbird! Fastest Sonofabitch in the air!"

"Fleet, this is Overwatch. Maintain Mid-Atlantic corridor to allow Black Eyes to make return."

The destroyer looked back at me. "But if it's so fast, than couldn't it just fly right past the Abyssals?"

"Well, umm…" I didn't really know how to answer. I still don't know why the air force doesn't just send a blackbird from Halifax to Paris. They have the range to do it, at 85 thousand feet and Mach fucking 3.2. It's all classified top secret bullshit. Oh well, let's get back to the story.

After about 40 minutes, Abyssal reinforcements from nearby theaters had begun to arrive on-scene. Riva and I went south, while Tennie and Maras went north. I had just pumped a full broadside into an Abyssal light cruiser when I heard chilling incoming reports.

"Overwatch, this is USS Ross. We've got another inbound Abyssal fleet from the south. It's … it's pretty big. Four battleships, and … and it appears to be an Abyssal aircraft carrier."

"Roger that, Ross." I could also faintly hear 'Jesus. An Abyssal aircraft carrier?'

"Black Eye, this is Overwatch. What is your ETA to Mid-Atlantic corridor now?"

"Hold on … We're still about 30 minutes away."

"USS Ross, this is Overwatch. How far out is this Abyssal fleet?"

"Unfortunately, we've lost a lot of drones, so we've only managed to catch it about 15 minutes out."

After brief moment of murmuring, General Vaugrenard came over the comms. "Fleet, this is Overwatch. Begin retreat. I repeat, begin retreat back to safe, Brazilian waters."

"Black Eye, this is Overwatch. I'm afraid luck is not on our side. We cannot keep the Atlantic clear for you. Recommend you attempt to make landing in Nigeria."

The poor radioman's voice betrayed a sense of fear. "Yes sir. Black Eyes, turning towards Nigeria."

XXX

Unfortunately, neither I nor Tennessee were ever told what, if any, intel we got out of Black Eyes. The official navy statement is that it never reached the coast, but I've done the math. It definitely made it to Africa.