Chapter 4: Burning Pearl

1941

December 7th

Hawaii

Oahu

Pearl Harbour

Ford Island Command Centre

0755hrs

Commander Logan C. Ramsey's POV

I was just at my post when I look out of the window and I saw a low flying plane.

"Must be some reckless pilot" I thought. I then saw that something black fall out of the plane.

"OH SHIT! It's a bomb!" I hollered as I realized what the black something was. I then ran to the nearest radio room. The bomb exploded as it hit something.

"What is going on sir?" One of the telegraph operators asked, confused and frightened by the sudden explosion.

"We are being bombed that's what going on!" I shouted, "Hurry up and broadcast that we got an air raid on us!"

"What is the message?" The telegraph operators asked.

"ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?" I shouted, "Fine, transmit; AIR RAID ON PEARL HARBOR X THIS IS NOT DRILL and make it uncoded"

"Aye-aye sir!" The telegraph operators quickly got to work. I then went outside to see explosions rock the base.

"Aw shit, this is going to be a bad day" I said as I watched men and grown fairies raced to planes to get to the machine guns or to save the planes. Some tried to put out the fire. It was hell. The PBYs were just erupting one after the other. I watched men just stood there frozen or firing their weapon.

Commander John Finn's POV

I grabbed a machine gun and fired at the enemy bombers that were tearing up my base. I didn't give a shit about the rounds. I was damn mad and I want to hit back at the enemy bastards.

Eva Marine Airfield

The US Marines on based grabbed whatever firearm they could get their hands on and opened a hail of improvised anti-air fire. One of the marines stood out in the open calmly firing his 45 cal pistol at the Japanese attackers.

William G Turner's POV

'This is hell' I thought as Amell and I ran into the rear cockpit of a parked SBD and we manned the 30 cal on the plane and started shooting at the Japanese. We managed to nail one then I got shot.

0801hrs

USS Utah

Utah's POV

I was pissed as my ship body got hit with two torpedoes that none of my new 5 in 38 cal guns opened fired. I felt my ship body beginning to roll over. I knew that if that was the case, many are going to get trapped. So I joined Chief Watertender Peter Tomich to keep the pumps running so more sailors can get off. He then told me to leave.

"Leave Utah! I can do this job on my own!" Peter said.

"No! I am staying! We need to save the ship so as many sailors can abandon ship" I argued.

"LEAVE UTAH! I WILL KEEP YOUR SHIP BODY AFLOAT! You have to go so you can give those abyssal bastards hell" Peter said.

"Why should I?" I asked.

"You are vital military asset, Utah, the US Navy is going need every available ship girl in the upcoming battle so you are going to need to evacuate" Peter said. I stood there for a while as I took in what he said. What he said was true; they are going to need every ship girl available in this one.

"Fine but you better be the last to come out" I said.

"We both know that isn't going to be so" Peter grinned. That was the last I saw of Peter's smile because at 0812hrs just two minutes after Arizona blew sky-high, my ship body rolled over.

US NAVY SUBMARINE BASE

Pennsylvania's POV

I was in shock and disbelief as I watch Pearl Harbour bombed mercilessly. Admiral Kimmel and his staff also just stood there in horror. Kimmel stood by the window of our office at the submarine base, his jaw set in stony anguish. As he watched the disaster across the harbor unfold with terrible fury, a spent .50 caliber machine gun bullet crashed through the glass. It brushed the admiral before it clanged to the floor. It cut his white jacket and raised a welt on his chest.

"It would have been merciful had it killed me" He murmured to me. He then proceeded to tear off his four star shoulder boards from his uniform.

0805hrs

USS Nevada

Nevada's POV

It was all so sudden, one moment the band was playing the Star Spangle Banner, the next it was a clusterfuck of explosions and destruction. I watched as the fairy sailors tried to react to the attack. I felt the ordinance hit my ship body.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?" A sailor shouted.

"I HAVE NO FUCKING IDEA" Another replied.

"MAN YOUR BATTLESTATIONS! MAN YOUR BATTLESTATIONS! THIS IS NO FUCKING DRILL!" A Petty officer shouted. I ran for my battlestation which was the bridge of my ship body and as I ran I saw my sailors open fire with rifles.

"Fire damn it! OPEN FIRE!" A sailor shouted.

Bridge of USS Nevada

"What's the damage?" Lt Commander Francie .J Thomas asked.

"We have been hit by at least six times" I said as I entered the bridge. The ship rocked again as the ship was hit again.

"Abandon ship!" A sailor shouted. I looked out the window as sailors began jumping into the water.

"HOLD YOUR GROUND BOYS!" Another sailor shouted. I watched as Pearl Harbour was bombed mercilessly by the attackers.

"THERE THEY ARE! SHOOT THEM DOWN!" A sailor shouted.

"Which direction are they coming from? You're not much help here!" Another shouted.

"Just shoot any god damn planes you see!" Another barked.

"OKAY CALM YOURSELVES DOWNS! This is Ensign Joey Taussig Jr, I will direct all anti-aircraft fire, got it?" I heard an observer fairy shouted.

"Cut us loose! We need to get to open waters!" Lt Commander Thomas ordered.

"Aye-aye sir" A sailor shouted.

"How hell did this happen?" I said.

USS Oklahoma

"WHERE THE HELL IS OKLAHOMA?" A gunner asked.

"She's busy kicking people out of the bunks" Another sailor replied, "Don't worry about her! Just man your goddamn gun!"

"I would! The fucking firing pins are gone!" The gunner replied.

"Where the fuck is the firing pins?" The sailor said.

"They were stored away because that admiral inspection, remember" The gunner said.

"Are you fucking kidding me?! Alright, follow me, we are getting those pins" The sailor said.

0805hrs

USS California

California's POV

"LOOK OUT TORPEDO!" A sailor shouted. I fell to my knees when I felt the two torpedo impacts my ship body.

"California! Are you alright?" A sailor asked.

"I am fine, get to your battlestations!" I ordered.

USS Oklahoma

Confusion reign throughout the American fleet as everyone was trying to figure out what is going on. They don't even know was hitting them.

"All hands! All hands! Man your battlestations god damn it! There are real bombs!" Someone announced.

"NO SHIT!" A sailor retorted.

"Oh shit, the enemy fleet is off Diamond Head!" A sailor said.

"How the fuck did they get that fucking close?!" A marine shouted.

"Hey do we even know who it that is attacking us?" A gunner's mate asked.

"Hey, I see red circles…FUCK! It is the Japs!" Another sailor said.

"I didn't know the Japs were sore at us" A marine said.

0807hrs

USS Enterprise

Enterprise's POV

I was just doing some runs on the flight deck of my ship body after I launched some SBD Dauntless Dive Bombers to scout the weather at Pearl Harbour; when suddenly I get a distress message from one of my girls.

"Please don't shoot! Don't shoot! This is an American plane!" I heard Ensign Manuela Gonzales plead on the radio, "Damn it! Okay Leon, get out of the plane now!"

'What is going on?' I thought as I immediately ran for the bridge to tell Halsey and Murray.

USS West Virginia

Doris Miller's POV

I had just removed the fatally wounded captain Bennion from the exposed bridge to a safe spot behind the conning tower when I was then told to man the machine gun but I didn't know how so two girls that I trust White and Delano told what to do. I was supposed to just load the ammunition belt into the machine gun but when no one came, I took over and started firing the machine gun.

"Miller!" White shouted.

"What is it ma'am?" I asked.

"You better man that gun well, it is yours!" White said.

"Yes sir" I replied and man that gun I did. I fired the machine gun until it went dried. I was then told by White to move the injured sailors to the quarterdeck. I saw West Virginia or Wee Vee as we like to call her helping as well despite being badly wounded. After doing so, I was told to abandon ship.

USS Maryland

Maryland's POV

I watched as my girls opened up on the Abyssal bastards with all our anti-air guns we got. I wanted to fire my 16 inch guns but I was surrounded by friendlies that I couldn't risk it.

"Damn it! How the hell did these bastards get through?" I asked to myself.

0808hrs

USS California

California's POV

I was trapped inside my ship body. The water was up to my chest and it was cold. There was no one around me, I shoved them through the porthole but I couldn't fit. I left my equipment in different compartment of my ship body and without it I am just a normal woman.

I feel so vulnerable… so helpless. All this armour and these anti-air guns and they did squawk against the bombs and torpedoes. I want to talk to Enterprise and I want to take back all I said to her. I want to say sorry. I don't want to die. I could feel that my ship body was listing and was continuing to fill with water.

"I DON'T WANT TO DIE!" I screamed as I splashed around in the water.

0810hrs

USS Arizona

Arizona's POV

I was on the main deck of my ship body just behind my number 2 turret. I was directing anti-air fire when I looked up and saw something falling from the sky. I saw that it was a bomb and it was heading for my forward battery. I just stood there, frozen as I watched the bomb fall. Everything seems to slow down as the bomb took a long time to hit my ship body. However just as it hit my deck, I had just one thing to say.

"Aw shit, it is going to hit…" I said.

USS Nevada

A US Fairy Sailor's POV

I was firing my rifle at the Abyssal bastards when I saw a bomb hit the Arizona and I watched in horror as the ship jumped 15 to 20 feet into the air and nearly ripping into two.

USS Vestal

Vestal's POV

I was busy trying to help my sailors get the 3 inch gun unjammed. I turned to face the Arizona when suddenly the battleship erupts like a volcano and the force cleared my ship body's deck. I too was thrown off my ship body.

"Ah crap, everyone is leaving the ship, ABANDON SHIP! ABANDON SHIP!" A sailor said.

"No! Don't abandon ship! Do not abandon ship!" I shouted as I got to my feet and dashed back to the ship. I help my captain, Commander Cassin Young up.

"Belay the order to abandon ship" My captain said coolly as she entered the bridge, "Lads, we're getting this ship underway"

"Aye-aye skipper!" A sailor said.

"Let's get going Vestal" Another said while pulling on my arm.

"Let's go" I said.

0811hrs

USS Tennessee

Tennessee's POV

My anti-air gunners doing the best they could as they tried to swat the Japanese bombers out of the skies but they were too many of them I tried to help man one of the guns but my left arm was badly injured from the bomb that hit my No.2 turret. I watched as corpsmen patch me up, the other sailors put the fires started from Arizona's detonation.

"I hope Arizona is alright" I prayed.

0812hrs

Hostile skies over Pearl Harbour

A flight of eleven United States Army Air Force B-17s appear over Hickam Field. These were the planes expected to arrive in Oahu that December morning and were the reason Opana Radar Station's radar warning set off no alarm.

Major Truman Lanley's POV

"Holy shit sir, the naval base is on fire" The bombardier said. I looked out of my cockpit and saw the destruction that was unfolding.

"Just great, arrive in a warzone with no gas and no guns" I grumbled.

"What do we do sir?" My co-pilot asked.

"We going to have to land before we get our plane shot out from beneath us" I said.

"This is flight lead to all flight elements, get your plane on the ground I don't care how or where just get their wheels on the ground. I then tried to get my plane down.

"Jack, what is that patch ground there" I pointed to my co-pilot's left.

"That's a golf course, sir" He said.

"Alright, we are heading there" I said as I brought the bomber down on the golf course.

0814hrs

USS Oklahoma

Oklahoma's POV

I was confused and dazed as I found myself underwater. I began swimming up to the surface and as I swam up, I saw dead sailors and marines sank deeper into the Pearl's water. I looked down and saw the still faces of the dead as they sank. I then broke the surface and I gasped for air. I then climbed on the overturned hulk of a battleship. I saw that there other sailors and marines on this but they were soon gunned down by Abyssals gunfire and bombs. I then saw others clambering onto the Maryland. Then I realized that I was on my own ship body

"Oklahoma!" Maryland shouted. I turned to see her waving towards me, "Swim here! You can continue the fight from here"

"I am coming!" I said as I swam to the Maryland to keep on fighting.

0817hrs

USS Helm

Helm's POV

I was in such a rush that I forgot to dismiss my ship body but that was not important right now as I needed to get out to sea.

"Hey Helm! There's a Jap sub stuck on the reef!" A Fairy spotter shouted.

"So it was these bastards! Alright, I am turning hard right!" I said as I turned myself hard right, "Give him hell boys!"

"Got it!" My gunners shouted as they opened up on the sub but I missed as I saw it slip away but I had other things to do.

0837hrs

USS Honolulu

A sailor's POV

The water was on fire as oil leaking from the battleships was set ablaze. I watched in horror as I saw fairies and men tried to swim away from the disaster. Just then I saw Monaghan steam by as she raced for the open waters of the Pacific. She already dismissed her ship body and was racing for the channel.

0839hrs

Monaghan's POV

I was going to get out of that damn harbor as fast as possible and into the open Pacific Ocean where I was safer. My skipper, Lt Commander Wilma P. Burfert told me to look any enemies for my weapons to unleash hell on. I then saw seaplane tender Curtiss signal to me.

"Monaghan! There is a Jap submarine directly in front of you" Curtiss shouted.

"Got it, thanks Curtiss" I said.

"No problem" Curtiss said. Just then I saw torpedo race towards me but it was not aimed for me and dashed right past. I saw the little bitch who tried to sink me and I rammed into her. I then dropped depth charges to make sure she was really dead. However due to the shallow harbour the depth charge's explosion lifted me out of the air but it didn't damage me. I saw the sailors cheer for my victory. Then I heard something big moving in the water. I turned around and there was Nevada's ship body underway for the open sea. Then I saw the Japanese approaching.

0850hrs

USS Nevada

Nevada's POV

"The Nevada is sailing out!" Someone shouted as sailors on the other warships saw my ship body make way for the open sea. I saw the Big Sunday Stars and Stripes waving proudly in the wind.

"Alright, once we passed the channel, we head for Enterprise" Thomas said.

"Holy shit the fire from the Arizona is hot" A sailor said.

"CHEERS FOR THE NEVADA!" Sailors from West Virginia and Tennessee cheered as we sailed passed.

"All we did was to sail away" I said.

"You are giving hope to them" Francie said.

"Ma'am! JAPANESE PLANES INCOMING! I THINK THEY ARE HEADING FOR US!" A sailor shouted.

"Shit" I said as I knew why they would do that.

"Damn it! They are going to use us to block the harbour" Francie said.

"What do we do ma'am?" A sailor asked.

"We are going to have to run me aground sir" I said.

"Are you sure Nevada?" Thomas asked.

"We got no other choice" I said.

"Alright, beach the Nevada off Hospital Point" Thomas ordered as my ship body sailed towards Hospital Point.

0854hrs

US NAVY SUBMARINE BASE

Pennsylvania's POV

I was crying as I had just watched my sister' ship body exploded into a humongous fireball. I didn't want to believe that it was my sister ship that was hit. Then I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder. I then heard someone said.

"Oh damn it! Pennsylvania got hit!" A seaman said.

"AH!" I heard children's screams from the hallway. I knew those voices.

"Cassin! Downes!" I exclaimed as I ran to the hallway. I saw Cassin and Downes were injured and they were bloody and they were covered with burns, "CORPSMEN!"

0930hrs

USS Shaw

Shaw's POV

I was just stunned at what was happening in our homeport. Everything was on fire. I was scared but I showed a brave face so that my gun crews don't lose morale. Suddenly someone shouted.

"BOMB! TAKE COVER" A sailor shouted. Then I fell to the floor and I had a massive pain on my head as an explosion shook my ship body violently. I saw pieces of my ship body fly all over the place.

"SHAW! SHAW! ARE YOU OKAY?" A sailor shouted as he ran into the ravaged bridge towards me. I could barely see his face

"Ugh…" I uttered.

"CORPSMEN" The sailor shouted. I want to sleep.

1000hrs

The attack was over as the Japanese have retreated and left the skies back in American hands. There was to be no more carnage other that already occurred. Now was for the US Pacific Fleet to lick its wounds. However for one carrier it was her mission of war.

USS Enterprise

Enterprise's POV

I was numbed by the news of the attack on Pearl Harbour but I decided that I can't be like this. We are at war now. I know that the United States is going to need me and my taskforce to give the enemy hell. I remember Rear Admiral Halsey issuing Battle Order Number One on November 28th and one phrase will always stick with me, "Steady nerves and stout hearts are needed now". I knew that Halsey needs me in this war…the United States needs me in this war. There is a threat pointed at my home country and I am not going to stop until that threat is gone.

"Enterprise" Halsey said. I turned to see solemn Halsey.

"What is it, sir?" I asked.

"We have new orders" Halsey said.

"What are the orders?" I asked. I want to be of service for the US in her time of need.

"We had been ordered to seek out and attack the Japanese fleet responsible for the destruction of the US Pacific fleet" Halsey said.

"Where do they want us to search?" Georgette asked.

"They say that the attack from the south so intelligence wants us to check the area south of Oahu" Halsey said.

"Let's get going" I said. We sailed into the area but we didn't find any Abyssals in the area.

December 8th 1941

1800hrs

Pearl Harbour

USS Enterprise

Yeoman Willard Norberg's POV

I was stunned by the extent of the damage in the harbour. The ships were on fire. There was smoke everywhere. There was oil all over the water. There were no bodies floating around, thank goodness. It was a nasty mess. It looked bad, it smelled bad. You could almost feel gloom and doom in the air.

Enterprise's POV

"My god, I knew the attack was bad but I didn't think it was this bad" Georgette said as she stood at the bridge. I was silent, the carnage left me breathless.

"I swear once we are done with those bastards, the Japanese language will only be spoken in hell" Halsey swore.

"You'd better get the hell out of here or the Japs will nail you too" I heard a sailor shouted as we passed the beached Nevada. My ship body docked on the opposite of where the battleships were moored and I went down to survey the damage. It was gut-wrenching to see the devastation up close. There were men and fairies hammering away at the belly of an overturned warship. Suddenly I was slapped across the face. I was stunned by the sudden slap. I turned to see Pennsylvania all covered in oil and dirt and she was cross.

"Where in hell were you?" Pennsylvania demanded.

"I…I was looking for t…the Japanese, ma'am, like I was ordered" I answered.

"BULLSHIT, ENTERPRISE" Pennsylvania growled but she began to shake and then wrapped her arms around me and began to wail, "Why Enterprise? Why did they attack? What did we do to them? Tell me why! Why did they have to take Arizona? She was my sister, damn it! Why didn't they sink me?"

"War is blind, Pennsylvania, she never knows who she is taking from us, all we can do is press on and ensure that their sacrifice was not in vain, though I might not feel how you feel now but I speak the truth when I say that you are not in this alone, Pennsylvania" I said.

"What do you mean E?" Pennsylvania sniffled.

"You don't have to face this war alone, Pennsylvania, I am here for you for starters, the capital ships, the cruisers, the destroyers, the submarines, the sailors, the airmen, the marines, we are all in this together and we are going to win this war or die trying and I swear that I will hunt down the Japanese carriers that sank your sister" I said as I comforted the weeping battleship.

"Sorry for slapping you, E" Pennsylvania said as she buried her face in my chest.

"It is alright, you wanted a place to unload your stress and burden so I don't mind" I said. I let Pennsylvania hold on to me to comfort her.

"E, has anyone told you that your flight deck is so comfy and soft" Pennsylvania said as she held my chest.

"Um, ma'am, there are sailors around" I scoffed. Pennsylvania immediately stood up, her face was very red.

"Um…well, you better get ready to move out" Pennsylvania.

"WAIT!" I heard someone shout. I saw a motorboat steam towards us. I saw a pair of familiar faces, it was California and she was wrapped in a towel and Maryland who has bandage wrapped across her abdomen.

"California? Maryland? What are you doing here?" Pennsylvania asked.

"I want to speak to Enterprise" California said.

"You want to speak to me but why California?" I asked.

"Because…because…I want to take back what I said on our trip to Pearl Harbour! I am sorry ever doubting airpower! I hope you can forgive me" California cried as she reached over and hug me. I was again surprised by the sudden hug. I saw Maryland struggling to keep the boat steady.

"It is alright, California, I held no grudge against you and I have forgiven you on that very same day" I said.

"Thank you, Enterprise, you are truly a great friend" California said. We soon parted ways and I returned to my ship body which was busy getting supplies, provisions and ammunition onboard. I joined the effort. I was refueled and rearmed in the shadows cast by the still-burning Arizona because from 0600hrs of December 9th 1941 onwards, I was at war.