DALEK WEEK : World War II
AN: This is a mini sequel to my DALEK WEEK Entry for Parents and a part of my ongoing story Musing of a Mother. Go read that for this to make a little more sense (if you haven't already!)
It was the year 1941 and Britain was at war again. Despite the smoothing attempts between Dr. Barlow, Count Volger, Alek, the King George and many other countless officials, the Nazi Party in Germany had prevailed and the appeasement tactic of hoping that Hitler would go away had been continued by the Right Honorable (more like right idiot) Neville Chamberlain.
Which meant that it was a dangerous time to fly an airship. But Deryn was confident in that fact that they wouldn't be attacked. After all, this was the first commercial fabricated airship with intended Clanker engines. Nearly all the countries in Europe, Asia and America had stakes on it and today was the first day of its maiden flight. December 6th.
Deryn leant against the wall of the Main Hall as the dancing couples swished by. She was sure that Alek would have dragged her onto the floor if she hadn't been on duty today. She rolled her eyes; she was Captain of this ship, she could hardly go gallivanting off along the dance floor when it was her duty time!
Deryn peered out the window next to her and checked the altitude. They were high above the clouds, which gave the dance a chilly venue. Luckily, it was Christmas in a couple of weeks, so it set the atmosphere nicely. It seemed there were genuinely nice air conditions, so she had left the bridge to oversee some dancing.
The engine pods started smoking and Deryn rolled her eyes. This had been a common occurrence in test runs and Deryn had hoped that the cantankerous Clanker engines might have put off breaking down for just one day. She gestured to Alek, who was busy chatting to Lady Rothchild. He looked disappointed, it must have been a riveting conversation, but made his excuses and left to oversee repairs.
Deryn smiled and relaxed. A commercial airship had been Alek's dream in the first place, created in the heat of the summer of 1924, but over these long years toiling over it, it had became her child, just as much as Lilia had. Both the airship and Lilia had grown up together side-by-side and she loved both, just as equally.
Thinking of Lilia made her wonder how Lilia was faring in the heart of Germany. Dr. Barlow had asked for Deryn to recommend a plucky young woman from the air force, where Deryn had consulted with, until very recently.
Lilia had overheard this conversation and volunteered to be a spy in the administration of the German government.
Her daughter's talents were immense. She could speak four languages fluently, three languages haltingly and a few basic terms in another six. She could fix a clanker engine, but was fascinated by natural science. She was plucky and daring and stubborn, but followed instructions when she needed to. But she couldn't do anything musical. That had been a major failing that Lilia had deeply regretted but Deryn had secretly chuckled over when her daughter wasn't looking. It wasn't funny of course, but Deryn found it ironic that her graceful daughter, who could be like a woman and like a man so fluently, couldn't dance or sing or play.
Lilia had the Aryan looks, mostly. She was tall, had blue eyes, spoke German perfectly and was posing as a pure-born German. The only 'failing', in Hitler's eyes would be her reddish brown hair she had inherited from Alek. Deryn thought it was far more beautiful than her own stringy, blonde hair, but Alek had calmly told her that she had no idea of her own worth.
Suddenly there was a jolt and the airship slowed down considerably, adding turbulence to the flight, pulling Deryn out of her musings. The people of the airship looked panicked and glanced around frantically and Deryn knew if she looked worried, there would surely be a stampede.
"Stay calm, everybody! This was a defect we often saw in the test runs. It's nothing dangerous or anything to be concerned about. Just the Clanker engines throwing a hissy fit again!" The Darwinists in the crowd laughed and the engineers cracked a grin. "Please stay in here, and I'll update you all when the engines are working. Have another drink!"
Deryn needed her speech and walked smoothly towards the door. In an aside to the vice-captain who was standing near the door, she said, "Make sure the officers aren't drunk. They ought to be perfectly sober. If they aren't, send them to bed. We can't have liabilities. Send someone to wake up the strafing hawks. In case that something's wrong in the army sense. The engines are actually fine. Alek had to have fixed them. This is something else."
The vice –captain nodded. "Should we continue to keep the passengers calm?"
Deryn nodded. "Aye, please do. Just keep the entrances and exits clear and regulated. If there is trouble, I don't want any stampedes, injuries or death due to overly-panicked or zealous people? Understand?"
When the Vice-Captain nodded, Deryn swept out of the room, ditching her dress jacket onto the coat rack as she past it, without slowing down. Deryn rolled up her sleeves where she had a knife strapped to her arm. She rubbed it before rapping on the bridge door.
The bosun opened the door and let her in without a word. "What's the news? What's wrong?" Deryn asked as she stepped up to the wheel.
"We have a problem." said the ship's doctor. "We're under attack."
Deryn whirled around to stare at him. "WHAT!" she said, looking distressed, "By who?"
The bosun bit his lip. "We think it's the Japanese, Captain."
Deryn blinked, attempting to remember what Dr. Barlow had been saying to her about the war a week ago. The Japanese wanted to expand their empire and power. There had been many attempts to claim some of the smaller island close to Japan, a lot of which had been prevented by US soldiers. Japan were furious with the USA. And this was a ship that was made possible by USA funding donations, while the Japanese had no interest or investments placed in the ship, like the Germans and Italians. How could she have forgotten that?
"Then we should get ready to attack them as well, aye? If they launch another attack on us, release the strafing hawks. They should be ready by now. Get the midshipmen and the riggers who can be spared on the airguns and get the senior officers evacuating passengers from their rooms towards the Main Hall. Tell them to keep the dancing going; it'll keep them pre-occupied and calm. And someone, for god's sake, send a radio message out for help! We have civilians on board!'
Deryn barked out the orders and the Bridge quickly left to go follow them. Deryn placed her hands on the wheel and looked out towards the Japanese aircraft. It was also a hydrogen breather, Japan being a pre-dominantly Darwinist country, but the last time she had been there, there was been a wodge of different technologies mixed together.
But this hydrogen breather was a war ship and she could see the flechette bats coming this way. Deryn's eyes widened and reached for the loud-speaker. No time to baby the passengers.
"This is your Captain, Deryn Sharp speaking. Officers, we are under attack. The Japanese have released flechette bats towards us, and I have no doubt that there are kappas beneath us, in the sea to destroy us completely. Release the strafing hawks and get some red light towards the bats! That confuses them! Use the lights from the Main Hall if you have to! Engines, to full reverse!"
She heard no response to her answers, but her crew were obedient and she had no doubt that her orders would be followed. Deryn sighed and pushed her fingers through her hair. She wanted nothing more than to be out on the riggings herself, doing Herculean inundations or ascending maneuvers or sliding escapes, but she was captain and needed to stay in the bridge in case there were any communications.
On the communications note… "This is Deryn Sharp, Captain of the Philistine, contacting Japanese vessel, Kitsune. Are you aware that we are a commercial ship, over?"
Deryn traced her hands over the wireless communication device. She had been loathe to employ Tesla's invention on this ship, but he had been a genius and this communication was far more effective than telegrams were.
The telecommunications device crackled to life underneath her fingertips and Deryn waited for the response. "Philistine," said the smooth, English voice, "This is Captain Toko Hatsuki of the Kitsune. We are well aware that you are an American commercial ship, over."
Deryn swore, they were well aware. She had been hoping otherwise. "First things first, we are not American, we are a malgasm of most of the countries in the world. Second, why in god's name are you then attacking us? Over."
Deryn still looked in concern at the flock of flechette bats heading their way. She could see the red light emanating from below deck, but they didn't seem to be having as much effect as the German gyrothopter had gotten, back when she had been on the Leviathan. Unfortunately, the German gyrothopter had then crashed, killing the man, so Deryn wasn't too keen on that method.
"You are in our path. And we have orders, over." said the smooth voice, a smug undertone to it
"At least let us evacuate, even if you don't want the ship to survive," said Deryn, "We have around three thousand civilians on board. If you'll let us evacuate them, you can blow up the ship, over."
Deryn hated compromises, and if it had been the Leviathan, she would never have done it. As it was, several key influential civilians were on board, and she couldn't risk their deaths without major diplomatic consequences. They came first, not the ship, nor the beasties on it. And it killed her inside. She wished she had Bovril with her now, to make this difficult decision, but Bovril was in the engine pods with Alek.
The Vice Captain burst into the room just as the Japanese Captain said, "No. I don't believe we shall. Prepare to die, Mr. Sharp."
The crackling of the telecom morphed into a steady beeping sound and Deryn swore angrily, hitting the table. Not only were they barking clart-filled bumrags, but they had called her a boy as well.
"You were negotiating?" asked the Vice-Captain.
"Yes, Mr Faust. I was hoping, that perhaps he thought we were an army vehicle. They know perfectly well that we're commercial and they'll kill us anyway."
Mr Faust looked downwards. "I've…disobeyed orders, Captain."
Deryn turned towards him, sharply. "How so, Mr. Faust?" she snapped.
"I've started evacuating the passengers off the ship. In the smaller hydrogen breathers with the air guns. Four officers each and 30 passengers in the boat. Families first. I leant something from the Titanic crash. Not just women and children."
Deryn relaxed. 'That's fine, Mr Faust. That's reasonable. As long as there are still enough officers to man the main ship."
He looked relieved and Deryn smiled. "Do you have a family back home?" asked Deryn as the telegram machine finished printing its answer. She glanced at it and her face burst into a smile.
"Yes," he said, "A wife and two daughters."
"Go home to them, then." said Deryn, "Get in one of the escape ships and go home to them Captain. The Japanese won't shoot. There's about 10 miles to the coast of Mexico. And the Belphegor shall distract them for us or collect the drifting ships."
He looked surprised. "But ma'am," he said, as he grabbed his jacket, "What about you? Don't you have a daughter? I met her once."
Deryn laughed. "Who said that I was planning to be a matyr? No, I spent 16 years of my life creating this ship; I'm not letting it explode now. Sound the ballast alert. Anything that can be thrown off will be. Food included. This ship will soar once most of the weight of passengers and luggage are removed. I'm headed down to the engine pods. I'll need to oversee them."
The Vice-Captain pulled off his glove and saluted. She grinned. "Go on. And, if you are going to the Main Hall, find Amelia Earhart for me. Tell her to find some plucky people who would be willing to clamber all over the ship and have some air-sense!" said Deryn, as she strode out of the bridge.
She was halfway towards the engine pods when the ship shuddered and sent her flying into the wall. "Sorry Beastie!" she called, before she started to sprint down the thin aluminium strip that was a floor. She may have been 42, but she'd be damned if she'd lost her touch.
She rapped sharply on the engine pods door, but there was no reply. They probably couldn't hear her. Deryn pushed the door but there was no response. It must have gotten jammed. Deryn sighed and stood back. Taking a deep breath, she rammed the heel of her foot next the lock and the wood easily splintered, but didn't break. Deryn took another breath, and kicked it again, this time a little higher, testing her flexibility. The door still wouldn't completely break, but there was a large hole in there.
"Alek, you dummkopf! Come and open the barking door!" she yelled into the engine pod, to the astonished faces of the engineers inside.
Alek quickly hurried from where he was standing in the centre of the engine pods. He was covered in grease and his hair was sleeked back. Deryn frowned; they were still on full forward.
"Didn't you get the message to go to full speed reverse?" asked Deryn as Alek pulled the door open in relief.
"Nothing," said Alek, "The first shot fired was at us. It didn't do too much to the engines but it knocked out our receiver. FULL SPEED REVERSE!" he yelled bellowed and everyone in the engine pods started tapping away and pulling at levers.
"We're evacuating most of the ship onto the smaller hydrogen breathers. If any of your men want to escape to go onto the Belphegor and dock in back in the USA or Mexico, they are more than welcome. Some of the last ships are going now." said Deryn. No one spoke up.
Alek quickly repeated what Deryn had said into French and Deryn quickly translated it into German. Still no one spoke.
"If I may," said Mr. Patel, one of the Indian engineers, in crystal clear English, "I have no family to await me and this ship was one of my life's dedications. I won't abandon it now and I doubt that you are, Captain."
Deryn smiled and shook her head. "A ballast alert has been sounded. Once the weight of the passengers and all the spare luggage and food has been thrown away, The Philistine should rise high up into the clouds. The Japanese airship will not be able to follow us. Not unless they throw the majority of their crew out of the ship, which I doubt even they would do. Collateral damage usually isn't trained officers or mercenaries."
All of those that could follow English looked pretty happy with the plan. "Mr. Patel," said Deryn, "I shall have to go to top deck to supervise some civilians who want to do some flying work for us. You are in charge here and I shall send Bovril down if there are any changes to engine speed."
Mr. Patel nodded and Alek quickly repeated the plan in French and German to the rest of the people working in the engines. Everyone seemed satisfied, so Deryn grabbed Alek's hand and they left the engine pods, leaving a splintered door behind them.
Once they were in the main deck, Alek grabbed her hands and kissed her firmly. Deryn didn't resist but once he paused for breath, she broke into a sprint pulling him with her.
"Deryn, I love you!" he said as they ran.
'I know, you ninny! I do too!" said Deryn, "But we aren't becoming matyrs today. We'll live on, I promise you. Now come on, hurry up!"
They sprinted up past the Main Hall to the Top Deck where Deryn spotted Amelia Earhart straight off. There were next to no ship officers around, but a lot of luggage was being thrown off the ship, so Deryn had no doubt they were all busy.
"I need all of you brave souls to climb the rigging. There are hydrogen leaks everywhere, and if we want to ascend and leave the Japanese ship behind, they'll need to be fixed." Ducking behind a potted plant, Deryn opened the drawer full of the tape that the Army used. "The sniffer dogs aren't currently available, so I'll need you to work in teams of three or four to try and spot as many as you can. Use this tape to close up the holes and don't get shot!" commanded Deryn.
"Amelia," said Deryn, "You're in charge. You've got a head for heights and you were on the test run of the Philistine. Can you show them how to harness themselves and clip into the ropes? All of the equipment is in that room over there, if the crew haven't chucked it out already."
Amelia nodded and saluted. Deryn nodded casually before grabbing Alek's hand and sprinting towards the bridge.
She could hear the guns leveling towards the engines and crossed her fingers for all of the soldier's lives as she spun the wheel, northwards, upwards as the Philistine rose slowly, escaping the gunfire.
"Alek," she asked, as she turned the ship around, "Can you man the telegram? Send one to the British Embassy and to the German Embassy. Tell them what has happened to us. Tell them that we are now officially a war vessel attempting to prevent a Japanese attack on us and presumably, the USA! Tell them that Japan is officially involved in the Second World War!"
AN: This is set right before Pearl Harbour. The Pearl Harbour attack was on the morning of the 7th, meaning that Deryn and the Philistine have intercepted the main Japanese aircraft attempting to bomb Pearl Harbour. I've obviously changed a few things. For one, Japan sent 353 planes to ruin all eight of the US's naval battleships. Here, there is just one, very large ship with a lot of firepower.
I leave what happened next to up to you. Did they succeed in keeping the Philistine afloat and stopped the Pearl Harbour attack? Did they save themselves but doom the 3600 men and women injured or killed by the bombs in America? Did they become matyrs and go down with the ship? Up to you. And, as additional info, in this universe, Amelia Earhart didn't die in 1938. Instead, she and Fred Noonan were rescued by some kraken just off the coast of Howland island, where she went onto worldwide fame and renown.