It took most of two hours for me to catch up to the distressed vessel. Hours of me coming up with plans and throwing them out to make new ones due to the difficulty inherent in planning for the complete unknown. I've never even heard of any sea grimm in the episodes I've watched, besides the Sea Feilong, so hearing those new grimm types had me a bit nervous. Actually, more than a bit nervous but I'm sure I wasn't showing it. I've also been passively listening to the mayday broadcast that repeated every fifteen minutes with no variation.

Then just past the two hour mark it said something that chilled me something fierce:

*"...Our paddlewheel has been damaged. Speed reduced to 16 knots, unable to repair! Requesting immediate assistance..."*

That had me pushing myself to the near maximum speed of 30 knots. I don't want to go flank speed yet, thiinking that I'll need to do so when dodging a grimm torpedo or something else like that. When I've started hearing beastly roars interspersed with the booming of cannons, I realized I made it. This is it, I thought, time to see what I can really do!

First thing I did was to go to shipgirl mode, leaping off my bow as my ship burst into cubes which formed on my back as my rigging. Landing on the water with a splash I zipped forward with some skating motions before I went steady and sailed onwards, leaving a sizeable wake behind me. At this point I can already see the mast of the distressed ship still fighting what must be a swarm of grimm, one of the most likely reasons why they've yet to get away or win the fight already.

...

"HOLD! Hold you men of Highwind! Kill the spawn of the deepest depths, don't let them kill the ship!" Cried a senior crewman, one Flint Bruno as he stabbed at a razorshark with aura enhanced strength, cracking through its armored skull and killing the beast which managed to ride the damaged paddlewheel onto the stern deck. This encouraged the sailors around him, as though tired they may be they let out a racuous cry and leapt upon the grimm with a burst of energy.

More of the razorsharks were killed, be they with guns, spearguns, or the few machine guns positioned on the two higher decks. But despite that more kept coming, the ship still shook from the blows of the two hardshells ramming themselves on Highwind's hull. Not to mention the Ketea, battering the foredeck and the sailors fighting it over there.

They've already lost the heavy cannon to that big bastard an hour into the fight, and more than a dozen sailors had died to the serpent's toothed maw and lashing whiskers. It's only thanks to a retired hunter and his apprentice that hitched a ride that they're still alive and kicking, but Bruno with seasoned mind had realized only a moment ago that unless a ship or a miracle shoes itself they aren't getting out of this alive. They really need help.

"Ship spotted!" A looukout shouted, gaining the attention of anyone not fighting, Flint included. "Off the port quarter! Its a monster of a ship, by the Brothers! Look at the size of her guns!"

Upon hearing his cry many of the sailors cried out in happiness, elated by the thought of impending rescue. They then set upon razorsharks still on the deck with renwed fervour, despite the injuries they recieve from the thrashing spiny grimm or even the few casualties they have suffered. "Fight on!" Flint was no less unnaffected, leaping on a recently arrived razorshark with a thrust from his spear. "I'm not feeling like dying today, how bout' you lot?!"

"Fuck that!" "No!" "Absolutely not!" "By the Brother's no!"

"That's the spirit boys and girls!" He replied to them, spear raised to the air with a foot resting on the disintegrating razorshark corpse, forefront of the fighting. And from his clear spot on the stern deck he too sees the ships moving to their aid, still out in the distance, the shadowed silhouette of its towering form rising from the horizon. Looks like he'll get to see his grandkids after all.

...

"Ok, looks like a paddlewheel ship of all things. Only seen them in photos, and its heavily armed." I muttered as I neared to eight kilometers of the ship. My zoomed in sight allowed me to more clearly see the ongoing situation, showing my the damages Highwind has gotten. "Damaged paddlewheel, parts of it hadd been bitten off, and some are outright missing. Some dents on the hull, not yet worrying. Grimm sharks jumping up onto the ship but the crew look to be handily fighting them off, that's good."

I then focused on the ship's foredeck where the biggest threat hissed its displeasure on the sailors valiantly holding it off. "I see where a heavy cannon used to be, looked to have been torn off its mount. Alright, let's see..." Radar has the ship and the giant sea serpent pinged. Now then, what weapon to use. Main guns are out, target and Highwind are too close together. Same with secondaries. I have tomahawks but the they're more useful on land targets. My harpoons meanwhile... wait.

"Ugh, why didn't I fire a missile earlier? I easily had them in radar more than an hour ago!" I have a detection range of one hundred and four kilometers, and my harpoons have an op. range of one hunderd and thirty nine kilometers. Damn, another thing I've forgotten. Well uh, it's not like I've any experience in a serious fight, nevermind having operated a warship before so sue me. And besides, this way Highwind's crew will know clearly who's responsible for saving them, that being me.

In a moment I've obtained a lock on my first target, that being the giant sea serpent clining onto the Highwind's bow. Then I remembered that a surface explosion, nevermind if my missile explodes underwater will also cause great damages to Highwind. I clicked my tongue, frustrated at my own mistakes and that I had to leave the crew to their struggle while I closed in more. Damn it, I thought, screw this. Flank speed!

My engines were pushed to their near limits to propel me to thirty five knots, just for the final sprint. I aimed my guns forward, deciding to start with my 5 in secondaries and CWIS Phalanxes first, to thin out the grimm swarming the ship. I'm within five kilometers from Highwind's port aide now, having gradually slowed down to twenty eight knots and lower. I could hardly miss.

"Firing Phalanxes!" I cried, and my gatling guns answered with a loud continuous roar. Thousands of rounds were sent downrange in short bursts, perforating many of the grimm who dared to show their ugly forms above the water. Black flesh, blood and white bone were blown up and about as the grimm cried out in their death throes, testament to the power of my smallest guns.

"Secondary batteries, firing!" Boom went my starboard secondaries, HE shells splashing down and detonating in sizable plumes danger close to the side of Highwind. It may be a risky but one I am determined to commit because hot damn that's a lot of shark grimm infesting the waters. Burst after burst of twenty millimetre rounds and the continuous salvoes of my five inch cannons thinned the swarm quickly, and at the five minute mark I have deemed the waters portside and behind of Highwind to be sufficiently clear of pests so I ceased firing.

"Highwind, this is the Iowa!" I called out through my radio. I may have closed to within two kilometres of the ship, but I don't think I could be heard thst far yet. "I've cleared the grimm portside of you. You're welcome!"

*"#he#K#te# is#after yo#!"*

Huh? What's after me? I thought I would at least get a thank yo- oh shit, where's the sea serpent?! It's not there anymore-

The water directly ahead of me frothed, being m only warning, before a gigantic toothed maw burst out from the sea with a sibilant roar heading straight for me. Eyes wide in surprise I instinctively brought my arms forward and leaned backwards, noticing how the rigging holding my forward main guns moved forward as well. Time slowed to a crawl as I watched the jaw opener wider than I was tall slowly begin to close on me. I was aware of my turrets traversing to face the serpent, my two forward phalanxes were almost on target but I already knew they'd be too late. I thought I was going to die then, never having accomplished anything of note, this adventure ending before it truly began.

Then the jaws bit down on me and I... was still alive. I stupidly gaped at the inside of the serpent's maw, its teeth that I was sure could easily shred an elephant barely digging into my armor, leaving deep scratches at worst but overall doing nothing to me. I haven't even been pushed back or slowed down!

Precious seconds I spent standing there dumbfounded, before realization set in and my shocked expression shifted into an eager grin. My Phalanxes were squarely aimed into the serpent's maw, I knew my five inchers were all aimed at the beast's sides and to my pleasant surprise my Y turret behind me had been lifted up and over me to point straight at its face. Low chuckles escaped my mouth, then I laughed out loud.

"KehahaHAHAHA!" I thrust an open hand forward, before I gave the serpent the middle finger. "All guns, FIRE!"

...

To the crew and passengers of Highwind, the Huntsman who'd somehow skated over the ocean carrying an astonishing amount of firepower was about to be devoured. They were shocked and fearful to lose what little hope they'd kept after the disappearance of the massive ship from earlier. The retired Huntsman who'd battled the serpent and was now resting on tied down crate had doffed his rancher hat for the expected loss. Aura is tough, but getting chewed on will quickly grind one down no matter how big the reserves of the person.

But contrary to doomed expectations the huntsman didn't get eaten. No, she kept on skating over the waves barely slowed down by the added weight of the Ketea, which was now being dragged along instead. And for those with keener eyes or making use of a scope of any sort they'll see the small guns placed on a steel shield have turned towards the Ketea, along with three massive ones coming up from behind her pointed straight at the grimm. Mad laughter was heard from the huntsman, before both woman and serpent were engulfed by the biggest explosion anyone on board will ever hear.

...

Coughing into a balled fist, I emerged from the massive cloud of gunsmoke my guns produced when they fired. Of the sea serpent, when I looked around I saw nothing of it remaining. At least, nothing bigger than the odd patch of black flesh, oil-like blood and bits of white bone all splasing down around me or already floating on the sea as they disintegrated. I looked upon my work with what must have been the biggest smile I've made since I spontaneously popped into existence here. My first big fight, and I have handily won with barely a scratch! That was how cathartic the whole experience was.

And I soon realized I wasn't alone in that feeling for moments later loud cheers erupted from my right. Looking over I saw the crew of Highwind cheering in my direction, waving weapons, hats and whatever else they've got in hand. I was puzzled for a second before the realization hit me like a truck: they were cheering for me. Me, a girl who before she got mashed with a ship had never done anything noteworthy to be cheered for in my life. My heart, already jubilant had felt like it reached a new height.

*"Amazing work Iowa!"* My radio then squawked at me with much less static than before. *"You've done in mere seconds what two other huntsmen, my crew and a heavy cannon hadn't. Marvelous work!"*

My face heated up in embarassment, but it was the good kind. I brushed some imaginary stains off my clothes and cleared my throat before speaking back. "Yes, well. Thanks! Happy to help."

*"Now ah, sorry to give you more work but I still got grimm on the starboard side, the few remaining razorsharks and the two hardshells still ramming my ship. Do you mind...?"*

"Say no more, sir...?" I replied while I increased speed to cross their T to the other side. I also made sure to reload my guns for the final round of fighting.

*"Captain Bernadot actually. But for what you've done for us lass you can call me Captain Bernie."*

"Got it. Your grimm won't be problems for much longer now sir!" I answered as I finally made it to Highwind's starboard side. There remained the last of the grimm swarm still throwing themselves at the ship and her crew, along with two of a type that must be the Hardshells. Looked like spike sea turtles they do, and they are busy ramming themselves on the side making increasingly large dents but no breeches yet. The people here build their ships tough!

Once again I fired my phalanxes and, this time, my portside secondary battery at the small horde and again they were ripped and blown to shreds. The two hardshells lasted a few seconds longer than the rest, but only a few seconds and soon enough all the grimm were turned to small disintegrating bits. The battle is over, and for the people on Highwind a time for them to celebrate their survival with more cheering and hugging amongst themselves. It was at this time that people who must have been passengers have come out to the balconies on the two upper decks. Must have gotten curious now that the all clear was given.

Alright. Everyone is safe, no surface contacts or anything else dangerous. I reckon I can finally hop aboard now. Just have to gain permission. "Captain Bernie, Iowa here. Permission to come aboard?"

*"No need to ask Iowa but alright, permission granted. Now come on over and get your well earned drinks!"*

"Its traditional captain! Heading over now." I slowed myself as I approached. Finally, human contact, the thing I need and totally lacked during my lonesome voyage!

And that's how I made my first true step into the world of Remnant. With a damn big bang!

A.N. - For anyone who wants to see how Iowa looks like, search this link: https/cdna./p/assets/images/images/029/695/142/4k/bach-do-iowa.jpg?1598366448