The Siren War and the Hymn of Steel Beasts

by R. Admiral Architect

The Azur Lane Coalition must face uncertainty in their war against the Sirens, fighting together with allies from two different worlds who were brought into their conflict due to an anomaly caused by the Sirens. Can the war be won once and for all? Rated M just in case. AL, KC, Arpeggio of Blue Steel Xover. Can't fit in three into the info sadly.

6. The Hunt for Wolves

A/N: Hello, it's been awhile since the last chapter. I sincerely apologize since life on campus had me preoccupied, but then the cases in my country spiked up all of a sudden and we're forced to do online classes due to lockdown. Now I have to do my assignments while having my short semester break. I'll answer the reviews at the bottom of this chapter or if you have any questions, feel free to send me a private message.

Enjoy the chapter!

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"The only thing that ever really frightened me during the war was the U-Boat peril… it did not take the form of flaring battles and glittering achievements, it manifested itself through statistics, diagrams, and curves unknown to the nation, incomprehensible to the public."

— Prime Minister Winston Churchill

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The night-watches were always a nightmare to the men of the convoy, they dreaded the darkness where the enemy loved to lurk in and savour them slowly. And this was one of the many nights despite the amount of escort ships present, it didn't delay the enemy in their ruthless strikes.

"Two distress rockets from the rear! It's from the supply ship, Southland!" The report was for naught as the mentioned ship erupted into a ball of fire when the torpedoes impacted.

Halifax and the crews on the bridge-wing of the Autumn watched in visible horror as the supply ship sank in minutes before their very eyes, there had been no survivors nor lifeboats sighted floating nearby so the corvette steamed on to protect the other transport ships.

"Lookout reports gunfire on the port bow, sir." said the talker.

Halifax sprang for the T.B.S. He had been inattentive for at least three minutes while Arrow and Kidd were in rapid communication, their sentences snapping back and forth, straining at the leash of the trained manner; the shipgirl was starting to panic while the other corvette's Captain tried his best to remain calm.

"Bearing two seven zero from me!"

"I have him on the screen, Kidd."

"Firing star shell! Stand by!"

Gunfire. Star shell. A surfaced U-boat? And the said bearing meant that it was between the screen and the convoy, charging in for its attack. The darkness was suddenly illuminated as the star shell burst high in the sky, the brilliant white light dangled from its parachute. To the Autumn's port beam the leading ship of the starboard column of the convoy was shadowed against the light.

" Autumn to Arrow! Autumn to Arrow! I'm turning across the convoy's bows! Cover me!"

"Wilco."

"I'll take her, Mr. Patterson."

"Aye aye, sir."

"Left full rudder. Meet her. Steady as you go."

"Steady on course—"

Halifax didn't trouble himself to listen to the figure given. He was content enough to see that the Autumn crossed the bows of the advancing convoy. The star shell was extinguished by now. He reached for the ship-wide comm at the same time action began.

"Sub bearing broad on starboard bow! Range three five double zero."

"Captain to gunnery control. Do not fire without orders!" he swivels around to face the helmsman; Lewis. "Get clear of the convoy."

He went back to the T.B.S. "Autumn to Kidd. Autumn to Kidd. Star shell again."

"Sub bearing zero four two. Range three two double zero."

Bearing's changed, as well as the range. The U-boat was somewhere in the darkness, trying to crawl its way to the convoy. The Autumn dipped and plunged in the high sea. Then the darkness was no more, replaced by the light hanging from the sky, lighting up the sea and the ships in dazzling white as bright as the moonlight. And there, on the Autumn's starboard bow, some two miles ahead, the slinking gray shape hurried over the silvered water, the gray wolf running at full stretch towards the flock.

"Gunnery control. Open fire!"

That U-boat would be up for a surprise; she was unaware of the corvette's presence heading for her with bared fangs and a blistering amount of guns aimed for her. The main guns barked as the blinding flash registered and a shattering crash rang out.

Halifax shielded his eyes with an arm while holding onto the railing of the bridge wing. The burst of firing ended, and he looked again; the gray shape was there but it had altered its course after nearly receiving a hit close to its conning tower. Now it was heading straight for the convoy. The star shell burned in the sky brightly without showing signs of diminishing—the shipgirl had the most effective star shell equipment he's ever seen. Flash and crash, the seventy-six and forty-millimeters were firing now as well, the distinguishable tonk-tonk-tonk of the forty, and the cracking of the seventy-six against the frantic bangs of the five inch jolted the ship and her crews.

"The target is altering its course." said the talker through the ensued chaos.

The guns fell silent as the blinded gunners no longer had a visual of their target.

"Ship dead ahead! Ship dead ahead!"

A yell from down below. Halifax stormed back into the bridge and shouted, "Left hard rudder!"

He saw a glimpse of that frightful sight when it had been reported, one of the transport ships was in the Autumn's direct course as the dark looming shape grew closer. The corvette leaned far over with the hard turn at high speed; her crews staggered and struggled for balance. Autumn shifted abruptly and the whole ship groaned under the strain.

The merchant ship seemed to be coming nearer and nearer even though the corvette swung hard to avoid it. Somebody from the other ship yelled at the top of his lungs and it was clear that the Autumn's starboard quarter might crash into the merchant ship if they kept their current course.

"Right full rudder! Meet her!"

The transport scrolled out of their vision as the corvette was now crossing down the lane between two columns of ships that had been covered by the darkness.

"All ahead standard."

The tension within the bridge eased as the ship's vibration from the high speed maneuvers gradually disappeared.

Silence. Nothing but the sound of waves lapping against the bow of ships around them, and this didn't last as evident when a distress rocket soared up and burst to the escort ship's starboard side. Machine guns were roaring. A great sheet of red flame erupted to the sky on Autumn's starboard side and the sound of the explosion shook the bridge. The U-boat they had nearly sunk was in the next lane of the convoy, wrecking havoc. Then flashes of orange appeared to her starboard bow, and it grew brighter. The bridge was suddenly invaded by a violent clatter and metallic twanging from the sound of falling glass. Someone from the last ship of the convoy had spotted the corvette and opened fire with a fifty-caliber machine gun, in addition to the near-zero visibility in the darkness and excitement he must've mistaken her for the U-boat. The burst swept across the front of the bridge just above Halifax's head, smashing in the glass. The cold air began to pour into the compartment. The first shots Autumn had ever received in battle—the first bullets ever to endanger the Captain's life—had been fired by the hand of an ally. But there was no time to think about that.

"Anybody hurt?" Halifax asked instinctively, but he didn't wait for the answers.

The merchant vessel shadowing them had passed by; they were in the clear now—and what the heck is that far out on their starboard beam, illuminated by the flames of a burning wreck?

"Right full rudder!"

It was a U-boat's superstructure, heaving up on a sea. She had come down from the next lane of the convoy and was now parallel with the Autumn.

"Meet her! Steady as you go!"

A wave ran across and the U-boat was no longer visible. She must've performed a crash dive—or it was all in his imagination. Halifax was sure that he had seen her; thousand yards forward of where the Autumn's bow was currently pointing towards.

"Anti-Submarine Warfare! Ready for a medium pattern with depth charges!" he snapped over his shoulder.

A voice behind him spoke and relayed the orders into a mouthpiece—Dawson, lieutenant junior grade, a green experience assistant gunnery officer on his duty shift.

"Sonar, commence sweep."

That U-boat would try to seek shelter under the noises made by the convoy.

"Right standard rudder."

"Sonar reports heavy interference, sir."

That was to be expected with nearly thirty ships' propellers all around them.

"Mr. Dawson!"

"Fire one!" said Dawson. "Fire two!"

Halifax pivoted around to look at him. The K guns barked. He shifted his gaze towards the stern and saw the sea in Autumn's wake suddenly burst up from below with the explosion of the first depth charge; stirring up the deep with fire and again came another depth charge, and again, over the huge area as the charges flung by the K guns exploded at the same time as the next charges from the racks. The surface of the sea foamed from the activity as they reflected the faint reddish glare from the burning ships.

"Right standard rudder! We'll drop another pattern as we go back, Mr. Dawson!"

"Aye, sir!"

The burning wreck of the nearest ship served as a crucial reference point for Autumn's course and position. He would have the area between those last charges and the convoy to be swarmed with depth charges. This could be a fatal mistake, but he hoped that the damned U-boat decided to stay under and play dead.

"Mr. Dawson!"

"Roll and fire, medium pattern. Roll and fire!"

The corvette steamed directly for the burning ship as she grew larger and brighter while the depth charges boomed and flashed behind the escort ship. The crash of explosions kept going on until there were none. Nothing. The darkness silenced and blinded the eyes and ears. The explosions deafened everything until the sensation recovered slowly. The bridge was silent, only to be broken by a crew's nervous cough.

"Ship ahead, sir." came the report from CIC. "Bearing one seven five, distance one mile."

That ship would be the rescue ship; Recovery. Performing rescue work on survivors from the sinking ships. The Captain would know what to do after there were no more cries for help in the water, lest they want to stay in the area and wait for the U-boat to pounce on said rescue vessel.

Halifax needed to search for that pesky submarine, she might've slipped past and headed North and he could try to sweep in that direction as he steamed for the flank of the main body of the convoy.

"Gunnery control reports that they believe they've made one or two hits when they fired on the sub the second time, sir."

A few hits and they had not prevented her from charging towards the convoy, from firing at least one torpedo, and from submerging when they were ready to attack again. A five-inch shell would only over-penetrate the fragile superstructure before it could arm and certainly without affecting the dive capabilities of the U-boat.

"Very well. Acknowledge that message."

Halifax took this chance to recuperate, asking for another refill of his coffee and finally took a bite of the sandwich that the mess crew brought up for him earlier, it was cold as if it had been from the refrigerator, but he bit a mouthful of it regardless due to the hunger. The bread was soggy from the mayonnaise and quite possibly the spray of water when the windows shattered but that didn't matter to him. He bit, chewed and swallowed in the darkness. And just as he was about to ask where his coffee was, the comms crackled.

"Contact to our stern!" The report came from CIC, "Bearing zero zero three. Range two thousand."

"Left full rudder. Make a course for zero zero three." he said, the sandwich in his left hand while his right hand wiped any crumbs or smudges on his mouth from the mayo or cream.

That contact could be the sub they had attempted to sink earlier. What a persistent fella. She had been fired upon on the surface, depth-charged relentlessly, but now she's surfaced and wanted to make speed towards the convoy again.

Halifax faced a tactical problem as they headed for the U-boat, should he open fire or not? It was better to hold fire till he was sure that the shots landed solid hits. A first salvo will always alert a submarine to submerge. In the pitch-black darkness there was a guaranteed chance that he might sneak up on her without being seen.

"Captain to gunnery control. Hold fire."

He walked out onto the wing of the bridge and finished off the remnants of his sandwich, thanking his lucky stars that he did so as he nearly lost his footing on the ice-glazed deck and he grabbed onto the rail to stabilize himself.

"Target bearing zero zero eight. Range one eight double zero."

The U-boat was close.

"T.B.S., sir." said the talker.

Arrow and Kidd and Cooper were all talking. They made contacts in the plenty, mixed up in a bloody mess of a bar-fight ahead of the convoy, while his ship was astern. He cursed internally that he couldn't assist them, not with a contact present here and threatening the rear of the convoy.

Halifax pondered on how they should approach this submarine as they got closer, at twelve knots they might alarm it or if they swivel to the left at eight knots it could work as a bait but they'd be vulnerable to torpedo attacks.

"Sonar reports contact, sir. Zero zero four. Range indefinite."

"Very well."

That was a surprising major gain.

"Did you get that difference in bearing, Mr. Patterson?"

"Yes, sir." the XO replied.

"Range one three double zero. Bearing zero zero seven approximately."

The fact that the U-boat allowed such a close approach was good enough of a sign that her detection devices weren't as acute as the Autumn's. Or it could be an error in her case. Or this Siren U-boat was just bold. It was intel that ONI could work with when he submits his report regarding increased intelligence in Siren Pawns.

"Contact disappeared, sir!" Patterson reported.

The U-boat's finally alarmed it seems.

"Sonar reports contact bearing zero zero six. Range eleven hundred yards."

It was time for the ol' game of hide 'n seek again.

"Come left to course zero zero zero." ordered Halifax.

"Sonar reports contact dead ahead. Range nine hundred yards."

They were right on her, and she should be turning by now; no idea whether it would be port or starboard for that matter.

"Sonar reports contact dead ahead. Range eight hundred yards. Seven hundred yards."

"He appears to be stationary, sir." an unexpected voice chirped in the background. That must've been Dawson.

"Thank you, that was exactly my presumption."

"Sonar reports contact dead ahead. Range six hundred yards."

Did her engine give out or something? It was possible but it was likely that—

"Sonar reports no contact, sir."

His suspicions became certain at that information. It was a pillenwerfer that they've been going after, chasing bubbles while the U-boat escaped to relative safety.

"Sonar still reports no contact, sir."

Damn. He had been bamboozled. But not entirely due to the current circumstances. If that pillenwerfer had remained active for a bit longer, he could've wasted dozens of depth-charges on a ghost.

"Right standard rudder. Head for the nearest ship of the convoy."

"Aye aye, sir. Rear of convoy, course zero seven zero."

The ship was full of activity as shadowy figures moved about and entered the bridge. The hours had bled by and the next watch had begun as the crew rotated for their next shift.

"I stand relieved, sir. Course zero seven zero. Ship in Condition Two. No unexecuted orders."

"Who has the deck?"

"Myers, sir."

"Very well. Get some shut-eye and enough rest."

"Aye aye, sir."

Halifax looked around, "Mr. Myers!"

"Sir!"

He relayed all the necessary information towards Myers of the situation down to the smallest details, any plans or course of action to take should they encounter the U-boat again. It was important that he knew everything to the letter for when the Captain was needed elsewhere or met an untimely demise by a stray bullet or anything that could incapacitate him.

"Is that understood?" he asked the poor lad.

"Yes sir."

The young man's tone was anything but positive, perhaps he was even regretting his choice of enlisting into the military at this moment. Halifax was well aware that good and bad apples existed. He peered at the clock, it had been fifteen minutes since they'd steered away from that pillenwerfer; more than three miles behind them to be precise.

"Captain! Radar pip, sir! Bearing two one eight. Range eight thousand."

"Very well. Right full rudder. Set the course to one six zero."

They weren't far out it seems after dropping that decoy.

"Contact bearing two one eight—two one seven. Range seven eight double zero."

The distance was closing, but the bearing changed. She must've thought all was clear, safe enough for her to surface and made another dash for the freighters. He could try to sneak up from behind her and avoid visual detection, risking the convoy but it might bring results. The U-boat was now four miles away.

Halifax paced around the bridge slowly while deep in his thoughts, he listened to the changing bearing and range being reported back to him. He decided on a course of action after deliberating his choices at hand.

"Left handsomely to course one six four."

The helmsman did his trick, skillfully maneuvering the corvette towards the aforementioned bearing.

"We're gonna sneak up on her from behind, Mr. Myers."

"Y.. yes sir."

The young man seemed to be on his nerves, either too excited or agitated in this intense situation. Halifax couldn't blame the boy for his incompetence in live combat since he too, had been in the same state back then.

He banished his thoughts, and went for the comms to ask CIC, "I need the target's speed and course."

"Speed ten knots, course zero eight five. It's an approximate though, sir."

"When will we be crossing her wake for our current course?"

"Less than two miles, sir. Could be more."

"Very well."

The bearing isn't constant but the range keeps getting closer. He anguished over his next move, should he have the guns open fire or drop depth charges? The flashes from the guns were blinding enough, and it could affect their vision to confirm hits. Sure, it's hard to miss at such close range, but with the heavy seas condition he was sure that the guns weren't an optimal choice.

"Torpedo officer."

"Yes, sir."

"Depth charges, close pattern. We'll be dashing at high speeds over the target so get ready for a melee range. Shallow setting."

"Close pattern. Shallow setting. Aye aye, sir."

The last bit of that order was an insurance as a sub wouldn't take long to dive, a surprised one especially. He hoped that she wouldn't be able to crash dive far enough for the depth charges to burst all around her.

He spoke into the comms once more.

"Chief Engineer, Bridge. Stand by for flank speed as soon as you get the signal."

"Flank speed. Aye aye, sir. The sea's pretty high, sir."

"I'm well aware of that, Chief. It's just for a few minutes so we'll return back to standard speed afterwards."

"Aye aye, sir."

He motioned for the talker.

"Captain to lookouts. Be ready to spot a sub on the surface nearly dead ahead of us after this next turn."

The talker repeated the message with Halifax listening.

"Lookouts reply aye aye, sir."

"Sonar, Standby."

The Autumn's sonar impulses might get picked up by the U-boat, so the corvette would be unguarded temporarily but the increased speed was their advantage.

"Bearing zero eight six. Range two four double zero."

"Left full rudder. Course zero eight three."

That should prepare them for an intercept course.

"Target bearing is zero eight three. Range two five double zero."

"All engines ahead flank."

"All engines ahead flank. Engine room reporting thirty knots, sir."

"Very well."

This was it. The increase in vibration indicated the Autumn's rising speed. He got out onto the starboard wing and looked into the eerie darkness. It would take at least four or five minutes before making visual contact. Two and a half minutes before the corvette was on top of the U-boat. Enough time for that sub to initiate a dive. But hopefully it's less than that.

"Bearing zero eight three. Range two three double zero. Two two double zero."

The corvette was nearly up to her maximum speed, bow crashing down onto the sea and sprayed water at her crew viciously.

"Range two thousand. One nine double zero."

He squinted in the dark, trying to spot the U-boat or at least it's silhouette.

"One eight double zero. One seven double zero."

He gulped, hand tightly gripped onto the icy railing lest he risked slipping on the cold deck.

"One one double zero. One thousand."

The Autumn plows through the high waves wildly.

"U-boat ahead! Zero zero five! Zero zero five!"

And there it was on the top of a wave, something solid in the dark night.

"Right rudder! Meet her!"

He caught sight of her again.

"Belay that! Left rudder!"

The corvette hurtled down a wave face and rose on another ahead of her. Halifax spotted the sub once more. At four hundred yards. And… gone? He couldn't believe his eyes. Lieutenant Dawson was beside him; his arm locked around a stanchion to avoid slipping on the heaving deck.

"Fire one! Fire two! K guns, fire!"

"All engines, standard speed. Right standard rudder."

To their stern the depth charges went off in the murky black sea like bolts of lightning in a thundercloud.

"Engine room reports all engines at standard speed, sir."

Autumn leaned over to the helm with the changing course and the decrease in speed.

"Prepare for a deep setting, Mr. Dawson. Wide pattern this time."

"Deep setting, wide pattern. Aye aye, sir."

The ship completes its circle, heading over to the next strip of the sea that she hadn't dropped on.

"Sonar, resume sweep."

"Sonar reports indications confused, sir."

"Very well."

They were probably too fast for the sonar to function, and the aftereffects from those depth charges.

There was no way to know what had been the U-boat's response after that dive and those bombing; she could've gone for any direction or any depth within her limits. But he guessed that she must've dove as deep as she boldly could.

"Standing by for a deep pattern, sir."

"Very well."

"Steady on course two six seven, sir."

"Sonar reports indications are still confused."

He sighed internally, "Very well."

There was no way to rely on the sonar for now, the ship had completed her circle.

"Now, Mr. Dawson."

The depth charges and K guns were rolled and fired again. Pillars of water shot up as this went on for one full minute.

"Left standard rudder. Set course for zero eight six."

And back again for another sweep. The same interaction of which pattern, the sonar's inability to function from the noises and confirmed course change.

Another set of underwater explosions aside from the previous ones. Halifax himself had attended a course on anti-submarine warfare at Casco Bay where he had studied with painful concentration on the experiences of both American and British on the war against U-boats in the Atlantic. From the most sensitive equipment to the most powerful weapons developed. Yet no one had thought of a way to figure out the Siren's mind and how they would proceed in combat. Such was the life of a sailor when the shipgirls were now the main workhorse of the armada.

"Right standard rudder. Steer for course two six eight. We'll hit 'em with one more deep pattern, Mr. Dawson."

"Aye aye, sir."

"Steady on course two six eight, sir."

He gave the signal and Dawson spoke into the mouthpiece, this pattern might be the final conduct. The ship turns back to head diagonally over the bombed area, northwards, then eastwards, back around south-westwards with the sonar pinging the depths for results; anything that indicated the U-boat was hit or sunk. And nothing, the reports were all negative as the ship wheeled here and there in the dark; without any aim compared to the previous orderly manner.

"Sir!" Dawson was by the wing of the bridge with him, gazing out towards the darkness as the piercing cold wind blew around them. "Sir, do—do you smell anything?"

"Smell what?" Halifax inquired, he then sniffed reflectively and tried to find the smell in the cold air; which was not an easy task in such conditions.

"It's gone now, sir." said Dawson. "No wait. There it is again! May I ask for Mr. Myers, sir?"

"Feel free."

"Mr. Myers, can you smell anything?"

Myers came out and sniffed the air.

"Oil?" he raised an eyebrow after having a whiff of the scent.

"Yeah, exactly what I was thinking about!" Dawson chirped, "Don't you smell it, sir?"

Oil! It was a clear hint when it comes to anti-submarine warfare that oil surfacing would tell escort ships that a submarine has been sunk. Halifax sniffed again, he wasn't sure if it was just him because there was nothing for him to smell.

"No, I don't smell it."

"Hey, Lookout! Did'cha smell any oil?" hailed Dawson.

"Not now, sir. But I thought I smelt some back there. Not that long ago."

"Even the lookout caught it, sir."

They peered out at the dark water below, though it was hardly that visible from the bridge. Impossible to see any traces of oil in the darkness.

"I wouldn't say there was any to me." He was skeptical about it, but it was possibly the Admiralty's influence on him that demanded high standards of proof; if there was no concrete evidence then he couldn't accept it.

"Don't think I can smell it now, sir. But we've come a long way since I first caught the scent." Dawson explained.

"No," came the blunt reply from Halifax. "There's nothing worth mentioning on this."

"If you say so, sir."

He wouldn't put this in the report since there was insufficient evidence, it wasn't wise to linger around searching for a phantom.

"Let's go." he entered the bridge. It was time to return to the convoy and join the other escort ships in their struggle.

"Take the conn, Mr. Myers. I want us heading around to the left flank of the convoy at our best acceptable speed."

"Aye aye, sir," replied Myers, and, after a moment's thought, "Should we perform zigzag maneuvers, sir?"

Halifax looked at the youth, disbelief visible on his face upon hearing the question, to which he responded, "No." It was a ridiculous option to zigzag when the ship would be steaming at twenty knots or more in the dark.

He remained on the bridge to keep an eye on Myers and be available when there was an emergency. He walked over to the T.B.S. and listened on the handset with one ear.

"Autumn to escorts." he spoke on the T.B.S. and waited for the bleated replies. "I'm going around the left flank. Look out for me, Arrow."

"Aye aye, sir."

"I didn't get the sub that I was chasing through the convoy," the Captain continued, "But I think my drops gave 'em one heck of a fright."

"We're the ones having frights up here, sir." squawked the T.B.S.

He didn't respond to that and flatly replied, "I am six miles behind you. I'll be up to you in half an hour, the left flank. Over."

He felt hungry and thirsty, this would be the right time for a chow; having eaten that cold sandwich and relying on icy-cold coffee were not ideal.

"Messenger!"

"Yes, sir."

"Head on down. Get me a pot of coffee, and a sandwich. And tell the mess boy that I don't want any onion. Make sure of it and bring them up yourself."

"Aye aye, sir."

It might've been the onion's fault in the sandwich that he wasn't able to pick up the scent of oil mentioned by Dawson and the other crew that smelt it. He only realised that the current watch was over when there was bustle through the ship, voices ringing back and forth, the clatter of steps on the ladders and Halifax turned his head slightly to catch sight of shadowy figures entering the dimly lit bridge; red lights painted the entire compartment. If he had to calculate the journey, the convoy was another twenty miles or more closer towards the safety of Allied air cover. He would need more than just a PBY-5A Catalina that Cooper possessed as ASW aircraft.

---

He poured himself a cup of coffee while fumbling in the darkness and took a sip of it. The smell and taste alone were enough to energize him, and coffee was just the type of beverage he would drink during leisure times. He reached for the sandwich next, biting into it and just as asked; no onion, just the bread, corned beef and mayo. Halifax wolfed down the sandwich, hunger piloting him and the taste too good for his palate even though it was just a sandwich; apparently hunger does that to you. It simply vanished in a few bites, he licked the traces of mayo that lingered on his fingers before having the coffee once more. A quick glance and he took a napkin from the tray that the messenger brought up not long ago, wiping his hands and then his mouth. He had enough energy to resume his duties now.

"Anything on the screen?" He contacted CIC.

Someone within the CIC gave him distances and bearings; the convoy was half a mile abaft his starboard beam though out of visual sight. Then a pip three miles ahead of them.

"That's the Arrow, sir."

"I'll take note, thank you."

"Our screen's a bit fuzzy. And kinda jumpy, sir."

"Very well."

Off to the T.B.S.

"Autumn to Arrow. Do you hear me?"

"Arrow to Autumn. I hear you."

"Your bearing from me is zero eight zero. Can you see me on your screen?"

"Aye, we have you, bearing two six two, distance three and a half miles."

"I'll be crossing your stern to start a sonar search at sonar speed."

"Aye aye, sir. We'll cover you."

He placed the handset down.

"Mr. Collins, we're going down to standard speed. Start sonar search."

"Aye aye, sir."

"Set a course passing the stern of Arrow and Cooper. Watch the freighters."

"Aye aye, sir."

---

"Aw flippers! My depth charges are running out..!" Cooper said aloud as she was inspecting her gear. Not minding the Iron Blood destroyer that had to listen to her shenanigans throughout the whole watch. Z23 nearly facepalmed and wondered just how Eagle Union managed to function with such a shipgirl in their roster. Then again she was one to talk when Iron Blood had such misfits as well. Though the two needed each other right now, Cooper can search with her advanced sonar while she swoops in from another flank to sink the Siren Pawns.

She shifted her gaze towards the other escorts forming a wide diamond formation around the convoy, she couldn't see them in the dark but simply from the moving silhouettes and the glint from binoculars.

The U-boats were quite annoying in the cover of night, concealing their torpedoes or even their approach until it was close enough to fire their deck guns. Kidd had been in charge of pinging the portside with her sonar and Z2 lent a hand with her own depth charge complement. The pair had an uncanny synergy during the skirmish with the surfaced submarines, Kidd would open fire to force the sub to dive while Z2 approached from the stern to drop depth charges when the sub did go under. With said tactic, they managed to sink one of the U-boats harassing the convoy and forcing the others to withdraw for that engagement.

The brunette shipgirl was currently doing her routine search, eyes closed shut and one hand cupped on her left ear. She pinged the depths with various pulse lengths; short, medium and long. A manjuu sat on her shoulder as a lookout in case there was a course change or sighting of a threat heading for her.

「ping」

Her sonar picked up a signature.

---

The pinging of the sonar shook him from his pondering.

"Kidd on the T.B.S., sir," said Collins, and Halifax went over to it.

"Kidd to Autumn! Kidd to Autumn!"

There was urgency in her voice.

"Autumn to Kidd. Go ahead."

"I have a contact bearing zero five zero from me. I'm currently running it down."

"I'll turn towards it. What range?"

"Very distant, sir."

"Very well."

He called down to the chartroom to ask for a course, "I'll take her now, Mr. Collins."

"Aye aye, sir."

"Arrow to Autumn. Arrow to Autumn!"

The T.B.S. summoned him as he was giving out a new course.

"We have a contact over here too. Distant range, bearing nine seven. And we've got a pip as well. Bearing one zero one, range eleven miles."

"Very well. I'll head on over to you after helping Kidd."

"Autumn! Autumn!" Another voice broke into the circuit. "Cooper here, sir! Do you hear me?"

"Autumn to Cooper. I hear you loud and clear."

"I have a pip here. Range eleven miles, bearing two four."

"Very well." Something must be said besides that "Very well.", "I'll have both Kidd and Z2 sent to you as soon as I can."

A fresh wave of assault, it might be a decisive one prepared just for this moment with the midwatch half through, the energy and alertness of the crew at their lowest in the darkest moment of the night.

"Kidd to Autumn. My contact is turning. Seems like she's coming your way, sir."

"Affirmative."

"Sonar reports contact, sir. Range distant, bearing zero nine zero."

It's nearly dead ahead of them so there was no need for a course change.

"Kidd to Autumn. Contact bears two seven one from me. Range one mile."

"It bears zero nine zero from me, distant range."

"Zero nine zero, distant, Aye aye, sir. I'm turning after it."

"I'll alter my course to zero eight five."

"Oh eight five. Aye aye, sir."

The course change was necessary so as the two ships wouldn't be heading straight for each other just like what had happened during the previous run where Kidd was skating just alongside the huge hull of the Autumn. Even though shipgirls are agile that doesn't mean she wouldn't panic in the face of a collision course. The last thing Halifax wanted was losing combat effectiveness from allied accidents.

"Left handsomely to course zero eight five."

"Sonar reports contact ahead, bearing indefinite. Strong up Doppler."

Strange. The U-boat was heading for a direct course to his ship. This is uncalled for even though he's well aware that the Sirens have unlimited resources when it comes to expending their Pawns.

"Kidd to Autumn. Contact is still turning. Bearing two seven six. Range one five double zero. I'm still turning after it. Z2 is taking the other flank towards it."

"I'll hold my course at present."

"Arrow to Autumn! I'm attacking."

The Skipper of the other corvette chimed in.

"Very well."

Multitasking command over various ships was taxing especially in moments such as these.

"Sonar reports contact bearing zero eight six. Range one mile. No Doppler."

"Who's on the sonar?"

"Jackson, sir." replied the talker.

That was reassuring; he needed someone that's aware and familiar with the pillenwerfer.

"Kidd to Autumn. It seems like she's turning back again."

"Very well. I'll hold my course."

"Sonar is reporting distant underwater explosions, sir."

"Acknowledged."

That would have to be Arrow's depth charges causing the ruckus.

"Sonar is reporting contact dead ahead. Strong up Doppler. Range fourteen hundred yards."

"Very well. Autumn to Kidd. She's coming right for me. Keep clear of my course."

"Kidd to Autumn. Aye aye, sir."

The brunette shipgirl's voice was calm and steady, not a hint of excitement or tension for the hunt.

"Kidd to Autumn. I am heading for course zero one zero."

She was astern of the U-boat, and prepared for interception should the submarine turn starboard.

"Sonar is reporting contact dead ahead. Strong up Doppler. Range eleven hundred yards."

Fortunately the U-boat had not detected the Autumn yet. It seemed her attention was focused on evading Kidd and Z2, possibly; or her listening instruments had been rendered confused by Kidd's nearness.

"Sonar reports contact confused, sir. Approximately dead ahead. No Doppler. Range approximately one thousand."

"Report acknowledged."

The U-boat must've noticed him by now, and was attempting to do something about it.

"Sonar reports contact dead ahead. It's a pill, sir. Range nine hundred."

She had dropped a pillenwerfer; Jackson had detected that, but the damned bubbling thing had prevented him from acquiring the new course that the sub had taken.

"Sonar reports possible contact. Bearing zero nine three. Range one thousand yards. Pill is still dead ahead."

The U-boat likely altered course to port, that was it's best chance to escape. And thanks to that pillenwerfer she had taken an extra step ahead of the Autumn.

"Right standard rudder. Steer course to one zero zero. Autumn to Kidd. Contact has altered her course to port and dropped a pill. I am changing course to starboard. One zero zero."

"One double oh. Aye aye, sir."

"Sonar reports confused contact, sir, to our port bow."

With the Autumn turning, the contact is likely to be indefinite.

"Kidd to Autumn. I only have the pill detected here, sir. No other contact present."

"Very well."

Autumn, Kidd and Z2 had the sub wedged in between them, and although their current courses would be putting distance quickly it was the best solution until this U-boat problem was resolved.

"Sonar reports confused contact bearing zero eight four. Range eleven hundred yards. Sounds like a pill."

That was a pillenwerfer, without a doubt; but it was hard to predict what the sub was doing. A sharp dive might have added to their current confusion. It was better to hold as the three ships were diverging from the last known position of the sub to regain it's pulse.

"Sonar reports contact bearing zero eight zero. Range twelve hundred yards. Contact weak."

She was getting too far away for the sonar to pinpoint efficiently.

"Left handsomely to zero nine zero. Autumn to Kidd. I am turning to port. Course zero nine zero."

"Course oh nine oh. Aye aye, sir."

"Sonar reports faint additional contact, range indefinite, bearing three four zero."

Three four zero? That's right abaft his beam.

"Autumn to Kidd. Do you have anything bearing three four zero from me? Range indefinite."

"On it, sir. Three four oh."

Something doesn't feel right about this. But there was always uncertainty about a cat and mouse game between a submarine and an escort ship.

"Kidd to Autumn! Kidd to Autumn! I have something. The signature's very faint. Bearing two two oh from me."

"Get after it, then, quick."

It was to Kidd's stern too. In the vicinity of the convoy with their propeller noises; the perfect shade for a U-boat to loiter and seek cover. It was out of the danger of being screened by the swiveling escort ships. That U-boat had fooled them completely. Hard to imagine a Pawn was capable of such a maneuver. She had dipped two pillenwerfers and turned sharply between the three escort ships and dove down to a different depth. Kidd had less time to turn than he had to make, it was better to send her and possibly Z2 trailing closely behind after the sub while he turned away to come from a different angle should the U-boat attempt another feint maneuver.

"Right standard rudder. Steer for course two six three."

The Autumn wheeled around, rolling about in the hollow point between two wave crests, tilting as she fought the heavy seas and the hunt commenced. Round after round the escort ships chased the faint contacts, avoiding each other as they passed in the darkness. Kidd went after the U-boat from the convoy; Autumn missed her as she wheeled back, and Kidd missed her as she skated back around. Then the contact was close enough.

Depth charges came from Z2 guided by Kidd's instructions, then Kidd followed. Depth charges dropped by the Autumn, the racks and K guns creating a maelstrom under the rough seas, illuminating the endless depths, and deafening sonar so it took a long while before a search could be conducted.

Bearing and course changes were flung back and forth between the three ships. Turn and circle back. This U-boat was a foxy fella.

Sudden reports flowed in from Arrow and Cooper, out on the flanks, fighting their own battles with Z23's assistance, but their situation was possibly the same as his at the moment.

"Right standard rudder. Steer for course zero fou—"

"Sonar reports torpedoes fired! Torpedoes in the water, sir!" The talker broke in as he was giving out an order, and tension rose within the bridge.

"Autumn to Kidd. Torpedoes in the water."

"I heard 'em, sir."

Torpedoes; the wolf had sharp fangs and was slashing back with them at its hunters.

"Sonar reports torpedoes' sound fading out," said the talker.

Those weren't aimed for his ship since the corvette changed course and distance from the contact.

"Kidd to Autumn. I'm evading." The shipgirl reported in a spiritless tone.

Halifax looked out into the darkness where the torpedoes were speeding towards Kidd. There might be a ball of fire and a detonating explosion out there in five more seconds. U-boats didn't fire torpedoes at escort vessels as often as one might expect unless it was a guaranteed hit. Shipgirls were even smaller targets and too agile of a target.

"Sonar reports—"

"Kidd to Autumn. Those torpedoes were a miss, sir."

"Thank God for that. I was worried for a moment there."

"Oh, I can take care of myself, sir. Thank you for the thought."

Halifax snapped an order over his shoulder at the helmsman before speaking into the T.B.S. once more.

"I'm heading for course zero eight zero."

"Oh eight oh. Aye aye, sir. I'll keep away to starboard."

The same pattern repeated itself, left turn, right turn, and drop depth charges. Cooper was firing star shells out to the left flank, while lookouts reported gunfire in that direction, and sonar reported distant explosions as Arrow fought off the submarines on the right, and the convoy steamed along in the dark, heading westward, steadily westward, towards relative safety.

---

0400 Hours - Morning Watch

Collins addressed him while the ship steadied herself on a new course.

"I'm being relieved, sir."

The midwatch was over; they had gained thirty more miles. Four hours of misery and desperate concentration from that last watch.

"Very well, Mr. Collins. Get some rest while you can."

"Aye aye, sir."

At the mention of rest he finally paid attention to his aching legs. He moved stiffly to his chair and sat down. It was a belief at sea that captains shouldn't sit down but that could be overlooked when exertion and pain were mixed into the batter. He held back the urge to groan in a mix of pain and relief, instead giving out a command. "Right standard rudder. Set course for zero eight nine."

The tempting thought of having hot coffee popped into his mind but they were currently running down to intercept a contact so he disregarded the thought of self-indulgence and tried to guess what the U-boat was likely to do next. It wasn't long before the range was close.

"Mr. Nostrum!"

"Roll and fire, roll and fire."

The underwater explosions made lines of geysers in the Autumn's wake as she swiveled back around to inspect the results of that drop.

"Sonar reports indications confused, sir."

"Very well. Mr. Patterson, take the conn."

"Aye aye, sir."

He walked out to the bridge wing to catch the breeze and held onto the railing as his legs had barely enough rest. He took the time to think about other issues beside the present and current one in the form of that pesky submarine. He gave the orders to the talker so it was relayed back, and he heard the result over the ship's loudspeaker as he paced back into the bridge.

"Attention all hands. There won't be any routine general quarters for this watch. If general quarters are announced then it's the real deal. The watch below can have a full four hours in unless an emergency occurs."

Halifax had been in contact with the enemy all day long, and the routine call for general quarters wasn't necessary since the whole ship was ready for action. It was a rough time to remain in Condition Two. The Autumn had brand new toys and new equipment, yet she didn't have any trained ratings available to keep the whole ship in Condition Two, the accommodation strained the ship itself as Halifax wasn't sure where the extra men would sleep or how they would be fed.

He fully entered the bridge when the report came in.

"Sonar reports uncertain contact, range indefinite, bearing approximately two three two."

"Is that the same contact that we engaged, Mr. Patterson?"

"Yes, sir."

"Where's Kidd?"

Patterson passed the information to him from the moment he stepped out of the bridge and how it had progressed.

"I'll take the conn, Mr. Patterson."

"Aye aye, sir."

"Right full rudder. Set a course to one six two."

Back hunting again.

"Kidd to Autumn. I am currently closing in on course nine seven."

"Very well."

The current chase was well already into its three hour long phase, and although they hadn't damaged the sub they at least managed to keep her from attacking the convoy; by forcing her away from the convoy's path. Three hours was not that long for a U-boat hunt; the Royal British Navy during WW2 had a record of one that lasted more than twenty-four hours. But at the same time the sub he had been hunting had been using her batteries extensively even for a Pawn, going a full six knots much of the time instead of stalking along at three or hanging motionless. Whoever's controlling the U-boat, if any, must be experiencing a certain anxiety about the supply of batteries.

But the U-boat's or the puppeter's worries while dodging three escort ships, while being depth-charged, while exhausting the batteries, were not to be compared with Halifax's own.

He had chased his enemy away to the flank, but that left the front of the convoy open to potential attacks from other subs. Arrow and Cooper, and potentially Z23, had their hands full, judging by their reports when they had the time to spare for one. It's a question of when before the enemy finds any weakness in the formation and exploits it to the fullest.

To guard the whole circle around a large large convoy with two corvettes and four shipgirls was not just difficult; it was impossible against a determined enemy under a possibly good puppeteer. While the next pattern of depth charges were being dropped and fire, he thought of the ideal escort force—with four more escort vessels to guard the front while he and Kidd acted as the pursuit group; two more to reinforce Arrow and Cooper; (if Z2 and Z23 weren't available like his situation) one to cover the rear; yes, and preferably another pursuit group as well. A tally of eight escort vessels and six specialized destroyers would do the trick. Oh, and air cover; he could not stress this enough for escort duties.

He had heard of small carriers or ASW carriers that were being built; equipped with improved radar-equipped planes, they would give these wolf-packs a whole lot more to ponder on. The project is a part of an anti-submarine warfare hunter-killer group devised to counter Nazi Germany's own network of Type-XXVII(F) and Type-XXVII(M) U-boats, the F variant was much more suited for attacking ships and other submarines while the M variant carried several improved V2 missiles and some were equipped with nuclear warheads as part of a Doomsday Plan in case a war turned in favour to the Allies, but it was a theoretical situation; one that the current Chancellor was very paranoid about and this led to the launch of said variant.

These Siren Pawns were different however, still utilizing WW2 U-boats but with deadly efficiency that could match Germany's own elite submarine fleets. It was as if they had learnt or copied Germany's tactics in submarine operations.

That wouldn't matter when the ASW carriers are manned, he presumed by a year or so, if priorities are given then those flattops might just get commissioned at the start or end of December. In the meantime it was his duty and the rest of those tasked for escort duties to fight their way through as best they could until the cavalry could come swooping in.

"Right full rudder. Steer course for zero seven three," said Halifax." Autumn to Kidd. I am going to cross your wake after your next attack."

He stepped back from the T.B.S. when his legs ached. He slumped down onto his chair and tried to stretch his legs, no one would be able to see him in the darkness of the bridge and the folks would be focused on their respective tasks anyways. Even though it was permitted for him to sit down in such conditions, he still felt conflicted and what the effects are towards discipline if the men saw him slacking off with little excuse.

"After lookout reports fire in the convoy, sir," said the talker.

Halifax got back to his feet at the mention of an attack, he saw the distress rockets soar up above the raging flames; there was another sharp red glow lighting the upper works of one merchant ship, silhouetting the upper works of another—a torpedo explosion as he watched; the interval indicated that this was not a "spread" bursting as it reached various targets. A U-boat had been deliberately marking down victims one after another.

"Sonar reports contact bearing zero seven seven," said the talker.

He and Kidd were keeping track of one U-boat; and one wrong move by the possible puppeteer might cause her precious Pawn's destruction. There were men dying behind him from the cold-blooded sharpshooting and he had to choose; it pains him to do so. He had to leave those men to die.

"Depth charges away," came the chirp from the T.B.S.

If he withdrew from the current hunt he wouldn't get another chance to make contact with the other U-boat; to be honest he was doubtful that he would at all. And the damage was already done.

"Sonar reports contact confused," said the talker. That was Kidd's depth charges going off.

He could try to save the men in the water; try as he might. But with the ensued confusion in the convoy ranks that was unlikely, and he would only risk his ship to be another victim of that same U-boat.

"I'm turning away to port," Kidd informed.

"Very well."

The U-boat that had performed that daring dash would be harmless temporarily while reloading her tubes.

"Sonar reports contact bearing zero six seven."

"Left handsomely to course zero six four. Autumn to Kidd. I'm turning to port to intercept."

He had to cast his emotions aside at the thought of those men he had to leave behind, rescue operations can't be done by the Recovery due to the hazard and the possibility of getting torpedoed while attempting such a feat.

"Sonar reports contact bearing zero six six, range one thousand," said the talker. "But it sounds like a pill, sir."

If that indeed was a pillenwerfer which way would the U-boat turn? What would be the perfect depth for her to seek safety?

The darkness was beginning to fade away, the white wave tops were becoming visible and daylight creeped towards them from the east. The transition from black to gray, and the coming of light to give them visual if there were any submarines on the surface drew near.

"Autumn to Kidd. I am holding my course. Keep clear." he spoke as flat and precise as he could.

"Contact bearing zero six seven, range eleven hundred yards."

"Acknowledged."

Another attempt to vanquish the hidden foe. If not one, then dozens, or hundreds if necessary. While the ship moved for her valiant charge, while the talker repeated the ranges, he bowed his head to pray silently.

"Stand by for a deep pattern, Mr. Nostrum."

"Aye aye, sir."

The wind still blew the Northern breeze, the seas rough as expected for the Atlantic, the corvette pitched and rolled. As daylight began to pour into the bridge he finally noticed the shattered windows—one pane with a clean bullet hole but the rest in splinters from that friendly fire; the fragments of glass littered the deck along with cups and napkins dirty from being trampled on.

"Get this mess cleaned, Mr. Patterson."

"Aye aye, sir."

Autumn's appearance seemed mystical in the light. The upper works coated with ice, frosted white. Everything that was exposed to the elements, ice was over them all. He could see Kidd now after the long night of talking with her over the T.B.S.

Her rigging stood out white against the usual gray as ice adorned them, the shipgirl was unfazed by the cold as she wore a sheepskin coat as preparation for the journey. Now he could actually see her perform that turn she had mentioned to him over the T.B.S.

"Left standard rudder. Steer course zero six zero."

He shuffled towards his chair when he couldn't walk properly, taking a seat as his leg muscles throbbed and relaxed. His throat felt parched, he was hungry and nauseated. His eyes watched Kidd moving in and listened to the reports relayed by the talker.

"Sonar reports contact bearing zero six four, range eleven hundred yards."

He was outwitted again, the U-boat turned to starboard when she performed a feint turn to port. He asked Patterson to convey the information to Kidd.

"Messenger! Ask the signal bridge if they've got ComConvoy in sight yet."

When the corvette finished her turn, Kidd was unable to turn fast enough to make drops on the U-boat; it might be possible for him though unless that U-boat wants to do the same trick it had previously done.

"Contact bearing zero five four, range eight hundred yards."

Drat, another missed chance; the U-boat's smaller turning radius was something to be coveted. The U-boat was safe from both vessels as they tried to swivel as hard as they could. Even Kidd was struggling despite her agility as a shipgirl.

"Kidd! This is Autumn. Ten degrees to my port bow, range eight hundred yards, she's turning fast!"

"My ASDIC's got her on an indefinite range. I'll go get her, sir!"

"Alright. I'll come back around from starboard. Over." Halifax motioned for the Quartermaster, "Right standard rudder! Set course for zero nine five."

The Messenger stood beside him after the order was parroted and carried out.

"ComConvoy in sight, report from signal bridge. Message just came in. Long message, sir."

"Very well."

Trailing closely behind was Sarah, the communications officer, with her clipboard of messages.

"Anything special worth knowing, Miss Lockhart?"

"No, sir. Except for the weather forecast."

"What'd they say?"

"It's going to be moderate, sir. We can expect rough winds from the South and Southwest."

"Alright, thank you, Miss Lockhart."

He turned back towards the T.B.S. as it crackled alive, "She's doubling around the other way, sir," Kidd reported, "I'm turning to port, my course is oh six oh, sir."

"Acknowledged. Stay on her. I'll swoop in from your starboard quarter." he looked back over his shoulder to give his next order, "Right standard rudder. Steer course one two five."

He noted the reports of ranges and bearings from the talker with his mind, relying on Kidd to perform her ASW duties and herd the U-boat to a position where the Autumn could charge in should the signal be given. For the time being he was blessed with a form of leisure, and the messenger once stood beside him with a signal pad from signal bridge. He focused his eyes on it, readying his stomach before reading what's written.

COMCONVOY TO COMESCORT. KNOWN LOSSES DURING THE NIGHT—

Four names stared back at him in the form of the signalman's ill-formed writing; he continued reading, the convoy was straggling badly and the list might not be complete. Recovery had saved some lives. ComConvoy went on to inform that they needed cover to the rear in the case of another straggle.

"Kidd to Autumn! Kidd to Autumn! She's still turning. You'll be crossing her bows, sir."

"Affirmative. I'm attacking. Coming in on course one two zero. Over." he addressed the helmsman, "Left smartly to course one two zero."

The next report unfortunately informed him that the submarine was turning back in the opposite direction.

"Belay that! Right hard rudder."

Halifax had an inspiration before he could give a course, and that inspiration was confirmed when the next bearing report came in.

"Meet her! Left rudder, steady as you go!"

"Sonar reports contact dead ahead, close range."

His quick decisive action was rewarded as the U-boat was right under his bows, he could've been tricked by that double feint and missed his mark if he had underestimated this Pawn.

"Mr. Nostrum!"

"Manned and ready, sir."

"Sonar reports no contact, sir."

"Fire one!" Eric said, "Fire two!"

The depth charges tumbled and were flung off the corvette, making small splashes before a deep rumble indicated their explosions and pillars of water erupted from the ship's wake.

"Right standard rudder. Set the course to two one zero."

The drops had no results, not a single one of the dozen depth charges for that pattern had exploded within the necessary twenty yards of the hidden target. Kidd was now skating back around to take up the attack, and the messenger from signal bridge still stood beside him. His mind wandered off to consider that horrible message. There was a chance of picking up survivors from the torpedoings some hours ago but the problem was the distance. Even if they were on lifeboats they would be dead by now in these icy heavy seas. Even if there was a chance of them surviving he couldn't do anything because it would take all day for a corvette to go back, search and rejoin the convoy; an undermanned one at that.

"Kidd to Autumn. I have her ten degrees to my starboard bow, sir."

"Very well. Go after her."

Should he move to cover the rear of this convoy? He wished he had a ship to spare to do that. Both Kidd and Cooper need the Iron Blood destroyers to stick close in case they were out of depth charges and sending a shipgirl with low munitions to cover the rear was out of the question lest he risk having her sink just by being a target practice for those U-boats.

Four names on that list of the lost; that added four more to the dozen of ships that the convoy had lost during this journey back to the States. Dead men by the hundreds. And the enemy merely lost Pawns; replaceable units as opposed to human lives.

"Kidd to Autumn. Engaging now!"

The talker repeated the range and bearing reported by sonar as Kidd's first depth charge exploded.

"Come right sharply. Meet her!"

The Autumn's bows were aimed at the edge of the area of stirring water, a follow-up strike had to be made if possible.

"Stand by, Mr. Nostrum!"

"Aye aye, sir."

The next reported bearing had the U-boat making a turn to dodge as expected.

"Right standard rudder. Course three two zero!"

"Sonar reports no contact, sir."

They were now well within the optimum range to drop the charges on this wolf.

"Fire one!" said Eric.

Halifax turned to Lieutenant Turner, the gunnery officer that had been awaiting his attention at the sides, the seconds while those charges rolled down were moments of freedom for him to attend other matters.

"Yes, Mr. Dalton?"

Dalton gave him a salute to which he responded by raising a hand, there was no need to do that during combat but it could be an implication of something wrong if the gunnery officer is being formal.

"It's about the consumption of depth charges, sir."

Those said charges were going off behind them at the moment.

"What of them, Mr. Dalton?"

"This pattern makes forty-eight charges expended, sir."

In the last few days of escort duties the Autumn had flung more than seven tons of high explosive over the side.

"And how many full patterns do we have left?"

"We're down to six charges, sir. These were the extra ones that we brought up from the crew quarters on the last watch."

Halifax took a moment to process that, another burden fell on his shoulders. A corvette without her depth charges might be as wise as a serpent, but would also be harmless as a dove if she couldn't perform what she was made for. All he had left were the Soviet rocket launcher mounts towards the bow of the ship, but they were still quite new to the USMF and he had no idea of their actual operational range. These RBU-6000 don't work like conventional anti-submarine weapons like the British Hedgehog or its variants; they needed to be sure of the U-boat's whereabouts and swarm the deep with these small 'bombs'.

"Right standard rudder. Set course for zero five zero."

One minute—he needed only one—before deciding what his next orders would be.

"Thank you, Mr. Dalton. We need to avoid firing full patterns, then."

"What I was about to suggest, sir."

It's been quite some time now, enough for that last pattern to take effect, if it did at all. He looked back at the area where the foam of explosions were bubbling away. There was nothing but foam, not even a hint of oil to indicate a submarine sinking. Kidd was close by, waiting for a contact to be picked up by her sonar.

He mulled over the issue with possible future patterns. He could expect air cover by tomorrow morning if the radius range was correct for those patrol bombers, or as the USMF called them; Maritime Patrol Aircrafts. U-boats in general were reluctant in operating under the watchful eyes of air cover, and with the weather calming down he should be expecting air cover.

"Kidd to Autumn! She's turning inside of my radius, to my starboard bow. Range, one one double oh."

"Very well. Stay on her, I'll swing in at the next turn."

"Aye aye, sir."

"Mr. Lewis, right standard rudder. Steer course to zero nine five."

Halifax tried to remember his training from Casco Bay, the mental image of depth charge patterns in threes; in a line and V-shaped materialized in his mind. Then the small circles which showed the limits of lethal effects of the charges. Though he would have preferred the pattern of four charges, he had a strict limit of the conventional explosives now however.

He listened closely to Kidd on the T.B.S. and waited for her next sonar report before ordering for a further turn to starboard.

This whole journey he had been reliant on the traditional method of anti-submarine warfare, using the depth charges the second he had the chance like a giddy little boy in a carnival full of games to play. Of course there was the option to use the rocket launcher mounts but that was a risky decision with Kidd maneuvering so close to catch that U-boat, if he ordered her to stand back then he wouldn't have an exact reading of the submarine's position; the agony of choice.

"We'll fire single charges, Mr. Dalton," he decided. "But we'll have to time this right, make sure that we drop it according to the depth setting and the last estimated course of that target."

"Aye aye, sir."

"Pass the word to the torpedo officers manning the release stations and the rest who are to come on duty, I won't have time to address them."

"Yes, sir."

"You may go now, Mr. Dalton."

"Thank you, sir."

He issued a new course to intercept the target.

"Autumn to Kidd! I'm turning in now."

With a single depth charge the ship could only attempt to predict where that U-boat would take evasive action, he was sure that the submarine might have an idea of the Autumn's routine by now. All he needed to do is not follow those old methods.

"Autumn to Kidd. I'll steam straight through after attacking so keep on my port bow and start your attack run once I'm clear."

"Aye aye, sir."

After taking a quick look around did he realise that the shift had changed and people were coming in and out of the bridge. Myers was back to give his report; Eric remained at the depth charge release, and just having him there was a relief.

"Welcome back, Mr. Myers."

The lad should have had hours of sleep, and his belly full of bacon and eggs, and he was in no hurry.

"Contact, bearing two eight two. Range close."

"Mr. Nostrum!"

Eric had timed the moment to the letter.

"Fire one!" said Eric into the mouthpiece.

There was something strange about seeing a single depth charge being dropped instead of the usual four. Autumn kept her course steadily. And then came Kidd, passing by very close as her brown hair fluttered in the breeze. The lookouts and depth charge crews could see her clearly now and it was a fascinating sight to see the shipgirl skate along.

"Kidd to Autumn. Do I look as cold as you do, sir?"

He supposed that cracking jokes might ease the tension while hunting for U-boats. He prodded his mind for a proper response, and casted his gaze on the shipgirl as she crossed his wake.

"Autumn to Kidd. You look frosty."

He got out onto the port wing of the bridge, and watched as Kidd went for her attack run. With the quick bearing changes it wasn't easy to track the shipgirl's course while she was on the hunt.

"Kidd to Autumn. I have her dead ahead of me."

He hoped that this would surprise the Pawn, to have another attack directed at her after escaping from the previous one. He prayed hard that the shipgirl's drop would succeed, that her pattern would crush that sub like a soda can being gripped tightly. He then saw the explosions from the depth charges; he counted three only, one in the wake and one on each side. Kidd was using the V-shaped pattern, then; another charge for the spot where the U-boat should be and one on each side to ensure more success for the drops.

"Autumn to Kidd. I'm turning to port. Keep clear."

"Aye aye, sir."

The corvette was headed for the center of the circle created by both her and the shipgirl's wakes.

"Contact bearing zero eight nine. Distant range."

Did the U-boat double back after Kidd's attack? He should know better when the next reading arrives; for the time being he has to keep his bows pointed at the target.

The ranges kept getting closer with no changes taking effect, and Halifax began to get suspicious; was the U-boat crippled and lying stationary?

"Sonar reports contact dead ahead. Range thirteen hundred yards. Sonar assumes it sounds like a pill, sir."

His suspicion was correct, then. It's been some time since the U-boat dropped the device, but which way did she go after that? He analyzed the situation, gazing over at Kidd and judging the distance to try and guess what the U-boat would do if she heard Kidd running up to her.

"Right handsomely to course zero eight nine."

The next report came in as the helmsman parroted the order.

"Contact dead ahead. Range one thousand yards. It still sounds like a pill, sir."

"Autumn to Kidd. She dropped another pill. I'll sweep to starboard. Get over here and search on my port beam."

"Aye aye, sir."

"Sonar reports contact with pill on bearing zero nine eight, range nine hundred yards."

If only he knew how long those blasted pills lasted it would help with the estimates.

"Sonar reports no contact, sir."

It seemed like the pillenwerfer had ceased its activities and the lack of bubbles made gravity able to pull it down into the depths.

"Sonar still reports no contact, sir."

Every wasted second is the circle widening and the possible position of the submarine becomes larger over the vast area.

"Autumn to Kidd. I've lost contact with the U-boat."

"I could say the same for myself, sir."

Perhaps that last pattern from Kidd scored a hit, the U-boat crushed by the depth charge after releasing its pillenwerfer and sank without a trace. But he was doubtful of that outcome, that submarine had to be somewhere near.

"Left standard rudder. Quartermaster, call out your heading. Autumn to Kidd. I'm circling to portside. Turn to port as well.",

"Aye aye, sir. My Asdic's getting echoes from the cold layers, sir."

That's the possible course of action for this sly U-boat, finding safety towards the cold layer and lying in wait deep down; deathly silent, balanced upon the invisible and fragile support of dense water.

The corvette came around as the seconds bled by rapidly, those seconds were precious. Towards the port quarter Kidd was turning less sharply, sweeping the unexplored quarter.

"Sonar reports echoes, sir. No contact."

"Very well."

They're possibly the same echoes that Kidd had reported. There were many cold streaks in the area, deflecting the sonar beam and quite possibly hiding the U-boat if she was stationary in the area. But she might have already slipped away, two or three miles distant and celebrating at the fact she has made a fool of two escort ships turning circles to find her.

The circle had been thoroughly combed, was there even a use continuing the current search? Halifax questioned himself, it could be the fatigue and hunger affecting his judgement. He sighed internally.

"Set course to zero nine zero," came the order, and then he spoke into the T.B.S., "I'm heading East for the head of the convoy. Course zero nine zero."

"Oh nine oh. Aye aye, sir."

"Do one more round and then resume patrol around the straggling merchant ships."

"Patrol around the stragglers. Aye aye, sir."

Over the Autumn's port side, the convoy was barely visible over the horizon. The formation had certainly broken off due to the torpedo attack from the night watch; the ships spread out like a circus parade. Kidd would be preoccupied covering their vulnerable flanks and herding the stragglers back into formation. He shuffled over to his chair and slumped down on it.

Hours ago he had informed Cooper that he would send both Kidd and Z2 over to offer assistance; and he told Arrow that he would come over to help. He had to make those promises, but they had to understand how strained the formation was after last night. He contacted Arrow and Cooper on the T.B.S. and listened to their reports, Arrow was six miles away to his starboard bow; which shows just how far the night watches drew the corvette and she was currently heaving back to her station after losing her own contact. He looked through his binoculars over that direction, spotting her as a solid nucleus in the horizon. Cooper was over to the left flank beyond the convoy, she was out of visible view but much closer to her station.

The messenger arrived with a tray in hand.

"XO told me to bring this to you, sir," he said.

Coffee; setup with cream and sugar, it seemed like the Holy Grail at the moment. Halifax reached for it, hands trembling and numb as he poured. He drank and refilled, the warmth of the coffee reminded him that he was cold, chilled through and through.

"Another pot, please." he said, returning the cup on the tray.

"Aye aye, sir."

As the messenger turned away the Filipino mess boy took his place with a tray in his hands; a white cloth draped over it. He lifted the cloth to see refreshments. Ham and eggs with hash browns. Toast, jam and more coffee! Bless the XO, that magnificent man. Though he wondered what to do next, he couldn't eat on his chair.

"On the chart table, please," he said, shuffling after the mess boy.

He looked at the meal and bowed his head to say his silent prayers before digging in, casting away his hesitations as he ate rapidly. Not minding how yellow drips from the fried eggs soiled his own sheepskin coat. He wolfed down the hash browns and toast spread with jam, moving on to the third cup of coffee to savor the delightful beverage. He said his thanks after the meal as he finished his third cup and went on to pour the fourth one. The messenger was back with another pot of coffee on a tray.

He felt sorry asking for that refill since he wasn't aware of the breakfast tray, so he looked around for help. "Mr. Myers, care for a cup of coffee?"

"'Could use one right now, sir. Thank you."

Myers had been on the freezing cold bridge for the whole two hours. He didn't hesitate pouring himself a cup, adding the cream and sugar before sipping on the warm beverage.

Halifax exchanged a grin with him. And the wink-wink of flash signals entered his peripheral vision far down the Northern horizon. That had to be Arrow sending a message. He told the mess boy to take away the tray and limped towards his chair. He allowed himself to sit down and regain his strength after that meal, avoiding from tiring himself further.

Signal bridge passed him the message as soon as he was seated.

ARROW TO COMESCORT. REGARDING THE PROLONGED ACTION DURING THE NIGHT WATCH—

Arrow was critical on fuel now, her depth charges are down to eight. A single day of flank speed or engaging the enemy for half an hour would leave her hapless and stranding. If he detached Arrow from his command then the ship could safely reach NY Harbour at economical speed. If he told the Captain to stay in the flotilla then it was questionable if the corvette could perform her duties. Though she was valuable to the escort force, her guns were enough to overpower submarines on the surface. Her remaining depth charges could be fired in singles, to keep submarines off the convoy for vital time. Her sonar could act as a guide for the Autumn and Kidd for a decisive hurrah; even the steady pinging might deter the submarines if they were listening.

If they survive through this day and the night watch he could expect air cover by the break of dawn and it wouldn't be a problem to tow the corvette as the merchant ships are able to do just that. He took the notepad and pencil before writing down his reply.

COMESCORT TO ARROW. CARRY ON BUT DO YOUR UTMOST TO CONSERVE FUEL AND AMMUNITION.

He pondered on what else to write, any sensitive remark or wording could even suggest that the corvette wasn't needed or hurt the Captain's feelings.

GOOD LUCK.

He was about to hand the pad back but stopped to write one more.

WE ALL NEED IT.

That should dampen down the official wording. He passed the pad back to the messenger and sent him off to the signal bridge.

Just then the warning bell rang beside the voice comm, and he walked over to it.

"Captain here."

"Captain, sir, we have a pip showing up. It could be one, sir. Our screen's quite bad right now. The pip bears zero eight one, range eight miles, sir. And… now it's gone. Not sure, sir."

Better to maintain course then, a possible pip could be a faulty in the equipment and besides the current course was between that pip and the convoy.

"There it is again, sir. I wish I could be sure."

The ship's radar had been behaving badly for several days now; he was sure that it was equipment faulty but one can't be too sure of it.

"How would that pip bear from Arrow's position?" he asked through the comms, he had an approximation in his thoughts but it was fair to trust in CIC for confirmation.

"Zero nine zero, range about twelve and a half miles, sir," replied the plotter from CIC.

"Very well," he said.

"If this is really a pip though, sir," added the voice from CIC, "The range and bearing is constant so it could be a fault with our radar."

"Very well, thank you."

He walked out onto the starboard wing of the bridge and gazed over the quarter. A large amount of smoke was rising from the convoy as the Captains issued for extra knots to have their ships stream back into formation. If a submarine was out there she could see them clearly beyond radar range of the escort warships.

In the bridge the voice comm announced to him.

"The pip seems to be gone now, sir."

"Very well."

With the Autumn's current position it was easy to get a visual of the starboard half of the convoy. He looked through his binoculars to observe the various ships and closely trailing behind them was the brunette shipgirl as she herded them back into their own stations.

"Periscope! Periscope sighted!" the starboard lookout shouted. "Starboam beam!"

Halifax sprang into action, sweeping the mentioned direction with his binoculars.

"It's still there, sir!"

The lookout pointed out frantically with his hand while spying with the binoculars.

"Zero nine eight! Four miles!"

Halifax trained his binoculars upwards slowly and then he saw it. Then it was gone. And he caught it again while balancing himself with the roll of the ship. A slender cylinder was sliding along the surface, and ripples of white visible at the base.

He watched as the periscope confidently dipped down below the surface slowly as if mocking him. He kept staring to make sure the periscope stays under.

"Take the conn, Mr. Myers," he said. "Set course to one seven zero."

"Aye aye, sir."

He had kept the order for a course change till the periscope disappeared so that the submarine was fooled that the escort ships did not sighted her.

"Autumn to Kidd! Autumn to Kidd!" said Halifax into the T.B.S. "Do you hear me?"

"Kidd to Autumn. I hear you, loud and clear."

"We saw a periscope a minute ago, a distance of three to four miles and bearing approximately one seven zero from me. She's heading for the flank of the convoy; two seven zero. And I am turning to one seven zero to intercept."

"Oh seven oh. Yes, sir. Data received, I'll turn to course oh two oh for my own interception. Z2 will be accompanying me."

"Very well."

From his spot Halifax could view the silhouette of the shipgirl as she turned. She must think it'd be safer to take an interception route, and he would likely do the same thing. Their duties were to fend off and drive the submarines away from the convoy. Destroying them are secondary objectives but important all the same.

"Should we engage the target, sir," Kidd started, "I'd be forced to use single drops. My supply is running low. But, Z2 should be able to compensate for this."

"I'm low on charges as well. Tell Z2 to make the drops count, we don't want her to run out just because of one U-boat." Halifax replied.

"We have to turn her away," added Halifax. "Keep her down until the convoy passes by."

"Yes, sir. I would also like to add that my noon fuel report will be coming in for you soon."

"How bad is it?" asked Halifax.

"It's not good, sir, but I wouldn't say it's very bad."

"Very well."

"Godspeed, sir," chirped Kidd.

"Thank you," came the reply, "Over."

He then spoke into the voice comm to the CIC.

"How long would it take for us to cross the sub's predicted course?"

"Twelve minutes, sir."

That was Howard Patterson's voice, the XO of the ship. His two hour rest must have gone by for him to be present within the CIC.

Though it was soon confirmed that it had been a little over two hours, the watch was changing. Myers saluted and reported that he was being relieved by Collins.

"You have the conn, Mr. Collins."

"Aye aye, sir."

He walked over to the loudspeaker to address the crew.

"This is the Captain. Those of you who just came in for the current watch had better be informed that we've sighted a periscope ten minutes ago. We are currently hunting for her. Don't let your guard down and remember your training."

He's aware that some of the men must be tired due to the constant call for general quarters, fatigue could lead to decreased productivity and he didn't want that to happen.

"Sonar reports distant contact bearing one seven zero, sir," the talker said all of a sudden.

That was quick.

"Contact ten degrees on my port bow," he spoke into the T.B.S.

"Aye aye, sir."

"I'll take the conn, Mr. Collins."

They were on a collision course with the U-boat apparently, and it wasn't an ideal underwater course to take for a submarine. This wasn't the same veteran sub that had avoided Autumn's pursuit, and both Kidd and Z2's earlier. There was less finesse in execution and less caution.

"Contact now bears one six one, distant range."

There's no need to change course as the bearing hasn't moved much. It was better to watch. Dawson was by his side.

"Single charges, sir?" said Dawson.

The temptation to fire a pattern of six depth charges on this inexperienced U-boat dawned on his mind, he could sink her right here but he thought of what would happen if he did so and missed. He would then be useless and helpless for the rest of the journey.

"Yes. Single charges, Mr. Dawson." he replied.

"Sonar reports—"

"Periscope!" said the other talker as he barged in; those on the bridge could hear yelling from the front. "Forward lookout reports periscope sighted dead ahead."

Halifax raised his binoculars; the forward forty-millimeters and the port side seventy-six millimeters suddenly opened up, then they stopped for a moment. He could see the splashes from the rounds and the two talkers spoke at once.

"Sonar report first," he said.

"Sonar is reporting contact bearing one six four, range two thousand yards."

"Forward lookout reports periscope has disappeared."

"Mount four, forty-one and forty-two opened fire at the periscope, no hits observed."

This Siren Pawn certainly had a different approach, and now he has to guess which way would she go after that spook. She would most likely dive deep.

"Ready for a deep setting, Mr. Dawson."

"Aye aye, sir."

"Sonar reports contact dead ahead, range fifteen hundred."

"Right handsomely to one eight zero."

"Contact dead ahead, range thirteen hundred."

"Right handsomely to one nine zero." he then went for the T.B.S. "Contact is crossing my bows, range thirteen hundred yards. I'm currently turning to starboard."

"Aye aye, sir."

"Sonar reports contact bearing one eight zero, range eleven hundred."

She's turning to port? He became suspicious of that information.

"Contact now bears one seven five range twelve hundred."

The U-boat was attempting to circle back and this messed up Autumn's last turn, increasing distance and wasting time. Halifax cursed internally at this annoyance, but how far would she turn?

"Left standard rudder. Set a course for one seven five." Back to the T.B.S. "Contact is turning around. I'm in pursuit, turning to port."

"Aye aye, sir."

Arrow was heading up to her station at the edge of the ring of ships, ready to charge into combat should she be needed. The convoy was getting closer to him.

"Contact bearing one seven two, range twelve hundred."

He waited for it, making a turn now would be a mistake.

"Contact now bears one six six, range steady at twelve hundred."

She was turning back at slow speeds.

"Left full rudder, course one five five." he addressed Kidd once more, "I'm still turning to port."

"Aye aye, sir."

"Contact dead ahead, range one thousand."

He was spot on this time. The target was closer now and he needed to press on with the advantage.

"Left full rudder. Course one four zero."

"Kidd to Autumn! Kidd to Autumn! I have contact, sir. She bears oh six four, range one thousand."

"Get 'er, Kidd! Tell Z2 to take the other flank."

The U-boat slipped away from the hot pan and now she was heading into the fire instead, Halifax watched as Kidd took a new course while Z2 diverged to take her own. The U-boat struggled and wiggled away desperately out of the circle. He needed to be decisive here.

"Right full rudder. Steer course to zero eight five. Come on in, Kidd. I'm turning to starboard for you."

"Thank you, Autumn. Here I go."

He listened to the sonar bearings, pondering on the next course of action as the two shepherds chased after the wolf.

"Torpedoes detected!" said the talker.

He took a second to think about it. That U-boat's stern was pointing straight for the Autumn: and the bows of that sub were pointing away from Kidd's bows. The shipgirl was distant, his ship was near. That U-boat should be aware of his ship's proximity, and was not informed of Kidd's approach. He clenched his fists, the Autumn was the target.

"Right full rudder! Steer course to one seven zero."

Those torpedoes would be aimed to cross nearly ahead of the corvette's present position; if he held his course then judging the wakes of those fishes the Autumn would connect with them.

"All engines ahead flank!"

"Torpedoes approaching!"

The respective repeat orders and return replies were given to him and he acknowledged them before turning for the T.B.S. which demanded his attention.

"Torpedoes are inbound for you, sir!" said the shipgirl with distress and urgency in her tone. "I can see that you've turned."

"Yes."

"Good luck, sir."

Yes, good luck to the Captain who might be dead in seconds, and a ship that might become a wreck or explode in a ball of fire. He's done what he could to put the ship in a course where he would be parallel to the torpedoes. The ship shuddered from the workings of her flank speed, the only issue was if those fired torpedoes were magnetic or not; late-war U-boats were equipped with them and one could wonder if the Sirens had them on their submarine Pawns.

"Torpedo to starboard!"

"After lookout reports—"

"Torpedo to port!"

The lookouts were shouting and the talkers talked at the same time. He leapt for the starboard wing of the bridge and he could see the menacing wake along the corvette's side, ten yards away and true to its path. Just his luck, it was an old-fashioned torpedo with none of those dreaded homing devices equipped.

Back into the bridge.

"All ahead standard. Left full rudder. Set a course for zero eight five."

It's been forty seconds since the alarm was sounded. Forty seconds of him neglecting the command of the escort ships currently hunting for that blasted submarine. He didn't get to watch Z2 weave around as she herded the submarine towards Kidd, she was remarkably nimble for an Iron Blood destroyer. She came back around again, he envied the shipgirl's ability to turn inside a U-boat's turning circle.

"Left standard rudder. Steer course zero two zero."

His maneuver to avoid those torpedoes and momentary full speed had cost him a large distance away from the heat of action.

"Kidd to Autumn. I have her right ahead of me. I'll be engaging any minute now."

"Very well."

"I'm glad those torpedoes missed, sir."

"Thank you."

"I'm turning to starboard again."

"Very well, carry on."

The convoy was getting near, too close for comfort and it wouldn't be long till sonar started complaining about the interference from multiple propellers. This new enemy was a dangerous fella, carefree with her torpedoes. Someone needs to keep watch, a close one if she was behaving like so, and preventing her from taking a precise aim. They needed to maneuver around her cautiously with that in mind. At the same she now had two torpedoes less, making her less deadly to a certain percent to the convoy. Though that sub would not fire eighteen more of her fishes and miss every time.

"Kidd to Autumn. Engaging now."

"Very well. I'll slot right in."

A singular pillar of water shot up behind Kidd. It was just one shot, but enough to deafen the shipgirl's sonar. The same could be said for the Autumn's instruments, one has to guess where that U-boat would turn to and the next bearing report had the target going the other direction of where the corvette was taking. The ship made the turn, turning a full left and made haste while passing the information to Kidd.

Back around after her, and around again. Have Kidd hound in after her. Move into position and drop a single charge. It was to be reminded that this mischievous U-boat might fire a spread at a moment's notice. Round and round, like a merry-go-round with full alert and anticipating for something to occur.

And something did. With Autumn taking a run, Kidd on another with Z2 following behind, each had dropped their charge.

"After lookout reports sub astern."

Halifax was quick to spring out onto the wing of the bridge. And there it was, a gray shape in display, a quarter of a mile away, the bridge and hull in full view of him. The guns in the after dual gun mount opened fire.

"Right full rudder!"

The next thing he knew it was gone, crash diving to head for safety.

"Meet her! Steady as you go!"

"Sonar reports close contact dead ahead."

"Mr. Dawson!"

"Sub alongside! Sub alongside!"

The port lookout screamed. The target was almost scraping alongside the steel hull, only ten feet between them. Halifax would've hit her with a potato if he had one to flung. There wasn't any depth charge at the portside K gun and the five-inch could only depress so far. Off went the secondary mounts, a mix of forty, twenty, and seventy-six millimeters firing at their own pace; he could see the mess of the splashes beyond and it seemed the secondaries couldn't depress that low either. The U-boat's bow submerged at a sharp angle and the bridge plunged forward into the water once more. A loud series of bang-bang-bang could be heard. Someone had mounted the M2HB too little too late.

"Left full rudder!"

The U-boat's bridge broke the surface again in a spray and vanished as quick as she surfaced, this was repeated several times. One could assume that her bow planes were jammed on rise. It might be a simple mechanical fault; or might be that one of those depth charges had scored a lucky pressure hit to damage the submarine.

"Right full rudder!" roared Halifax, his voice boomed from end to end of the ship.

Kidd was coming right towards them; he had forgotten about the shipgirl due to the sub being so close to him, and she had every right to start her attack run. Slowly the two swung outwards with a brief kick of the propellers. Kidd skated past the portside to pursue the sub, she waved airily to Halifax and several of the men; to which they eagerly responded and some could be heard shouting, "Give her hell, Kidd!"

"Meet her!" he bellowed. "Left full rudder!"

He paced back into the bridge to be greeted by the talker's monotonous voice.

"Indications confused, sir."

He observed Kidd's course by eye, and tried to guess what the U-boat's next move was.

"Kidd to Autumn! Kidd to Autumn!"

"Autumn to Kidd. Go ahead."

"No contact, sir. Must be too close for the sonar to pick up."

If it was yesterday then this would have opted for a full pattern but now that was not recommended and Kidd has to conserve her remaining combat effectiveness; there was no chance to hit a submarine within the probable three hundred yard circle to score a hit with a single charge.

"Hold your course. I'll be crossing your stern."

"Aye aye, sir."

Halifax called for a course change and the helmsman repeated the order, he needed to pick up the echo from that sub with this pass. With a jammed plane the sub could try to keep herself submerged by trimming the ballast tanks; even below the surface she—

"Autumn! Autumn! Here he is!"

Halifax looked over the starboard bow of Kidd and saw nothing but the shipgirl and a wave riding along with her.

"She's too close!" came the distress from the T.B.S., and at the same time the sound of gunfire erupted over the air. Kidd turned rapidly to port. Her guns blazing and small-caliber machine guns opened up. The shipgirl made way as the wave settled down to reveal the surfaced U-boat, and the two chased each other's tails. As Kidd came broadside on to Halifax's view a bright flash winked once from the shipgirl's rigging. A pillar of water shot up in the sea halfway between them; something dark flung out of the base of said pillar, with incredible velocity, exiting his sight and roared overhead with a loud whistle. Kidd had fired her five-inch at an extremely depressed angle and the shell ricocheted off the surface, fortunately bouncing high enough to pass over the Autumn. It's hard to blame her; she was turning so rapidly and with the Autumn crossing her stern the situation was developing too quickly she couldn't have known that the corvette would be in the line of fire.

More explosive banging and shaking as the ships circled. That U-boat had given up trying to make repairs and desperately decided to slug it out on the surface; possibly to deal as much damage as she could. The shipgirl couldn't rely on her main guns as they were attached to her rigging but she did have secondary armament that could be handheld. And, closer to the surface than her gun, the U-boat's own deck gun would bear on Kidd's unarmored side. What could a four-inch even do to a shipgirl?

"Right full rudder!" said Halifax. He had been so amazed by the sight that he had neglected the fact that his ship was turning away from the fight.

"Captain to gunnery control. Stand by till you've got a clear shot at the target."

A burst of flames and gunpowder could be seen from Kidd; smoke poured from her as she staggered and held her side. The U-boat scored a hit. They were still circling around as this transpired.

He needed to do something and barge into the fight, he could try ramming the submarine but that would tear the bottom of his ship, though it was worth a try.

"Left standard rudder! Meet her!"

As Halifax braced himself for the charge the situation changed, he saw Kidd wavered with all the smoke on her and turned outwards.

"Right standard rudder! Captain to gunnery control. All guns manual control, standby for the target to the port beam, fire as you bear. Meet her!"

Autumn presented her starboard side to Kidd and the U-boat. All six of the five-inch guns trained on the submarine, and at the same time the sub was taken by surprise when Kidd abruptly altered her course. The guns and the auxiliary armaments opened, causing the ship to tremble from the explosive force of all guns firing. The gray U-boat was surrounded by constant splashes of various sizes, over and over again, as orange glares appeared when the shells burst. Also in the heart of all this, a yellow flash winked from the submarine, just once. Through all the vibration from the recoil and the noise of gunfire Halifax heard the crash and felt the ship shake violently, subsequently causing everyone on the bridge to stagger; a shockwave passed in and out of the compartment. The guns fell silent as they straightened themselves, this caused Halifax to fear what had happened in that instance of shaking. He took a brief glance to see that the U-boat was gone. With binoculars raised he scanned the section where he last saw the submarine. In her place were two huge bubbles bursting in succession on the surface.

He looked down aft from the bridge of the wing, he saw twisted iron dimly through the smoke. He dreaded what had occurred down there. The port seventy-six millimeter gun-tub abaft the stack was gone, gone. Below it the deck was twisted and torn apart, and at the root of the smoke a glimmer of flame was visible in the cold daylight.

The flames were spreading through the holes in the deck, a young seaman had a foam nozzle in each hand and was spraying on the flames from the edge of the blaze. The other crew members joined with their own nozzles and he was sure that the fire would be taken care of. He looked around at Kidd and then the convoy before entering the bridge.

"Kidd on the T.B.S., sir," said Collins.

"Autumn to Kidd. Go ahead."

"Permission to look for any devices, sir," said the shipgirl.

"Very well. Permission granted. What is your damage?"

"I've lost my gun, sir. The five-inch. Minor bleeding and burns to the rigging. She hit me right on the mount."

"Any other damage I should be aware of?"

"Nothing serious, sir. Most of the shells went right through my rigging and some exploded on the extra armor plates I hid in my sheepskin coat."

At twenty yards those submarine four-inch shells would be traveling at muzzle velocity. It was liable they overpenetrate lest they hit something solid such as a shipgirl's gun mount.

"I have the fires under control, sir," Kidd continued, "The Manjuus have definitely extinguished them."

"How seaworthy are you?"

"Oh, I'm not out of this fight just yet, sir. As for my wounds, they'll heal if I lick them." she chuckled and a silent wince leaked out from her mouth.

"Seaworthy but not fit for combat." replied Halifax.

"Oh, I've still got my Bofors, sir, and two depth charges left."

"Very well."

"I'm heading for the oil, sir. Large pool of it, and should reach you soon I believe, sir."

"I can see that clearly. Any wreckage?"

"Yes, sir, there are some fragments. Can't see what they are from here, sir, but I'll pick 'em up. Should be sufficient evidence, sir. We got her all right."

"We sure did."

"Any orders, sir?"

With this battle taken care of he had to make arrangements for the next one. He might get into another one at any moment.

"I'd like to send you home,"

"Sir!" Kidd reproachfully replied.

The shipgirl knew as much about escorting convoys as he did, probably more, even despite his veterancy within the navy.

"Well then, get back to your screening station as soon as you've picked up the evidence."

"Aye aye, sir."

"Over," said Halifax.

The spreading oil has reached Autumn now. The raw scent of it familiarized itself to everyone's nostrils. There was no doubting it, the U-boat had been destroyed. She had fought till the end, doing all the damage she could. She was far more effective on the surface than underwater, and managed to score hits amidst the chaos happening all around her; even as shells were raining down on her.

He got onto the wing of the bridge to inspect the scene of the damage. The fire was out with patches of foam drifting about on the deck. The ship's damage control system had not stood the test of war; he needed to do something about that. Two seamen were making their way past the shattered part of the deck carrying a stretcher between them; another seaman was fastened into it.

He paced for the loudspeaker.

"Captain here. We sank that U-boat. Hit 'er countless times with the five-inch. She hit us, in turn. We now have casualties aboard this ship. Some are hit hard." he paused to let his words sink in, "They performed their duties. And we'll make sure the next U-boat pays for them. We're nearly within reach of Allied air cover, but keep your guard up at all times."

There hung a small mirror beside the loudspeaker, a relic of peacetime days. He couldn't recognize the man looking back at him in it as he took several glances to make sure of it.

Eyes rimmed with red as he realized that he hadn't been getting any sleep aboard the ship. He needed to wash, bathe and shave. There was no use thinking about those during these dire moments. He brought himself back into the bridge and down onto his chair. The show must go on. The sonar still pinged as the Atlantic swarmed with various enemies.

"Mr. Collins, take the conn."

"Aye aye, sir."

"Take us to station and patrol ahead of the convoy."

"Yes, sir."

Dalton made his gunnery report on the battle circuit and counted seven distinct hits in the fifty-odd rounds fired.

"I thought it would be more," Halifax replied.

"It might have been, sir. We probably didn't see them."

"Good shooting though, Mr. Dalton. A job well done."

"Thank you, sir. I'd like to inform you that gun number four for the 'B' mount still has a round in the breech. Request permission to fire the shell to unload it."

A shell left in the heated gun was too hazardous to unload the ordinary way. He looked around him. A sudden explosive shot could alarm the convoy but it should be common for them by now.

"Permission granted, Mr. Dalton. But make sure you send someone to warn the ship over the PA system before proceeding."

"Aye aye, sir. Thank you, sir."

Alarming the convoy was one thing, but the sudden crash of a gun could disturb the ship due to false alarms.

Now that matters are dealt with he could get down to the head (the ship's bathroom). He heard Dalton's warning being announced over the loudspeaker as he walked down the ladder, but it didn't matter because he now had to wrestle with the issue of whether or not he should break radio silence and inform the USMF HQ of the decreasing effectiveness of his escort flotilla. He was so much into the problem and immersed in it that he was taken by surprise when gun number four did indeed fire off the shot. He took the bleeding minutes away from the bridge to gather his thoughts, washing his face and hands, soaping and rubbing vigorously to wash off any stubborn filth. The improved hygiene made him feel a lot better. He picked up his hood and gloves before taking the weary climb back up to the bridge.

…

… ...

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DcWestby: I appreciate that you enjoy this story. As for your question regarding add-ins; they're not the only ones I'll be introducing into this book. Though I'd like to refrain from adding more ships from the ARP universe, the Kancolle universe is much easier since they're acceptable in terms of necessary firepower. We'll see how things progress though, Saint Paul is sort of a test to see how far I could go with this story. Not too underpowered like a Fog light cruiser but also not that overpowered like a Fog battleship. I'm not sure about Maya since she's not exactly around anymore after the ARP movie, I'm willing to discuss further though about Myoko but not this early I'm afraid, do keep in touch though!

Also it's not quite limited for characters, it's just for the ARP universe to avoid powercreeping on the baddies, I wouldn't mind adding more shipgirls from Kancolle. But still, as mentioned I'm willing to discuss future plans and make compromises. I've yet to do the worldbuilding for the Japanese Empire after the armistice. And technically they're still in the Axis Powers since Sakura Empire is siding with Iron Blood in the Crimson Axis. However, I'll get into the political side of their relations in future chapters. I am grateful that you're willing to observe where this path would lead. I can't thank you enough for the support. Every little bit helps in these trying times.

A/N: And I'd like to personally thank those that have been keeping up, supporting and waiting for this chapter. I can never apologize enough for the delay. As I've said though, I will never abandon this book, unless something were to happen to me. This has been Rear Admiral Architect, now signing off.

(P.S: Would it be convenient if I made a Discord server for the convenience of QAs? Not just here, but there is also acceptable if it's much easier than , share your thoughts!)