AN: You can't rush art! Anyways, here you are!
Date: 03/25/2016
Time: 1005 hours (GMT+12)
Location: 8° 43' 37.4" N, 167° 44' 29.1" E Kwajalein, Marshall Islands
Kwajalein was usually a boring place to be in with little to nothing going on. Hardly anything happens in his hometown of Rochester, Minnesota, but this place was the definition of uneventful. Just not today…
Yesterday, Colonel Arthur G. Schmidt, US Army, awoke to reports of an unknown ship pulling up at the pier. He was ready to yell at the young private for disturbing his sleep when he explained the situation. That got him out of bed, in uniform, and onto the pier where he saw a ship being tied up. And it wasn't just any ship, it was a warship too as shown by the guns on it. Then a woman, who was extremely pretty and wearing weird clothes (with no pants), walked down from it and started requesting fuel oil, and ammunition. He then asked for her credentials and she told him that she was from 'Azur Lane'. Then an argument ensued because he had no idea what the hell that was.
He also immediately noted despite her playful and teasing exterior, she was getting nervous and scared within. A part of him wanted to lock her up in the brig, but a part of him told him not to. So, he decided the best move was to invite her for coffee and then phone HQ to ask for advice. He got a phone line to INDOPACOM, explained the situation, and was later redirected to some navy officer who he was told would help him. He spoke with the navy officer who later told him that the woman, whose name was Prinz Eugen, was friendly and that she was with him apparently among other things. He was also told to expect a possible air attack by an enemy force and that she would help them before having to sign off.
So, he ordered his men to prepare defenses and allowed Prinz Eugen to do her thing. She rushed back to her boat shortly after while his men scrambled to do their jobs. Non-essential personnel was sent away, barricades placed, and various weaponry pulled out. The AN/TWQ-1 Avenger SHORAD system they had was pulled out of the shed while smaller FIM-92 Stinger MANPADS were distributed among men. The MIM-104 Patriot battery guarding the atoll was also alerted. Thirty minutes later, the Patriot battery reported seeing a large cluster of airborne contacts 90 kilometers to the west. He doesn't remember any exercises taking place in the middle of nowhere today, so they had to be hostile. But he wanted to make sure, so he referred it to Prinz Eugen who then told him to blow them out of the sky. Confirmation was received and an order was given.
The battery commander allowed the contacts to get a bit closer before letting loose a salvo of MIM-104F (PAC-3) missiles at them. Multiple contacts disappeared minutes later before letting loose another salvo and repeating until they ran out of missiles. The batteries would be reloaded in a light-speed time of only 25 minutes before more salvos were fired. Once the batteries were spent again, the remaining airborne contacts were close enough to be engaged by the Avenger and Stinger crews. Although, there wasn't much left and it was just a matter of cleaning up stragglers. Prinz Eugen's ship also provided some fire support from its various guns but didn't get many shots off until all were downed. Speaking of which, he also only just noticed that no other person was coming from that boat besides her. But if what that Ryan guy told him was correct, then he'll need a few more zeroes on his paycheck before he even wants to find out.
An hour passed before all clear was announced as the Patriot battery could no longer see anything else on their screens, although he ordered his men to remain alert and expect more company. Then another hour later was when more ships appeared and dropped anchor close by. And again, more beautiful women came out of them. He quickly messaged Ryan about the situation and told him to tell them to stay put since he was en route there and would arrive the next day. He quickly relayed that message and that was that. Nothing else happened for the rest of the day, thank God.
Now, the forty-five-year-old Army officer stood within the terminal of Bucholz Army Airfield, away from the heat of the sun while waiting for his contacts. Just a couple dozen yards away from him was the ocean and much further beyond was a whole flotilla of ships likely dropping anchor. Kwajalein was no stranger to fleets of ships, but it's been over seventy years since there was one that big here. He also glanced to his side to see their 'visitors' speaking amongst themselves over some snacks. They were also waiting for the contacts too.
The internal thoughts of those present were interrupted when the noise of a helicopter was heard, prompting them to look outside toward the airfield to see a single navy Seahawk landing on the apron. The door opened and multiple individuals stepped out, one man in a navy uniform, and four women dressed in wacky outfits, just like those already present.
"Yep, that's them alright," Schmidt said under his breath before finishing the rest of his coffee and picking up his black beret to put it on, then standing from the table he had occupied.
It had been quite a long night for Ryan, but now that day had come he had to face its problems. Fortunately for him, it's the aftermath of the bigger problem and all that he needed to do was pick up the pieces. Once the fleet had dropped anchor just off of Kwajalein, a Kansen from the four factions met in Enterprise's hull where they hopped on a Seahawk from Port Royal and flew over to Bucholz Army Airfield. They weren't the higher representatives since Warspite still wasn't present and the other three were busy at the moment, so others with authority had to do for the time being. The flight was short and uneventful, and they were at their destination in no time.
Once the helo landed, he was the first to get out to stand by the door and offer his hand to help the ladies down like the gentleman he is. Although they were his subordinates, a lady is still a lady. Belfast came first and she accepted his hand in her trademark elegant and graceful fashion. Kongou also had an air of elegance to her as she gratefully accepted his help, probably due to her being built in Britain, thus acting like a Royal Lady. Then there was Hipper, who chastised him for trying to help her, stating that she could get down on her own, but eventually accepted his help anyway.
And then there was Enterprise. Once she popped her head out of the aircraft, she came face to face with Eric, who gave her a friendly smile before looking down at his outstretched hand. She smiled back and took his hand, allowing him to guide her out of the aircraft. The action lasted only a few seconds and he let go immediately. But for some reason, she felt a strange rush within her when he took her hand and subsequently felt empty when he let go. It's as if she liked the feeling of his warm hands on hers and now she finds herself missing it. However, any more thoughts on that matter were promptly put aside as she looked around. The last time she was here was when her air group was bombing Japanese defenses to soften them up for the Marines. And now she's back, except it's to pick up her friends who also got displaced.
Ahead of them, a trio of men exited the terminal and approached, all wearing Army Combat Uniforms (ACU) in the Operational Camouflage Patterns (OCP). The person in the middle wore a black beret while the other two flanked him on both sides with normal covers on them. This must be the base's boss and his security detail. With that in mind, Ryan closed the distance to stand before him and saluted. Although they were of different branches and only one level in the difference of rank, it was still respectful to salute.
"Good morning, sir, you must be the boss around. I'm Commander Eric Halsey Ryan. It's nice to meet you," He introduced.
Jesus. This guy looks like he could use some whiskey and a lap dance, Schmidt thought, upon returning the salute and analyzing him. The man looked exhausted.
"Good morning and nice to meet you too, Commander. Welcome to Kwajalein. I'm Colonel Arthur Schmidt, CO of the garrison here," He introduced himself and raised his hand for a shake. "We spoke on the phone yesterday, do you remember?"
"Yes sir, I remember," Ryan replied, locking his hand firmly and shaking it. "Also, these ladies are with me. They're familiar with your guests."
With that, the Colonel stepped aside to greet the lovely ladies with Ryan. And although they were gorgeous, their odd names failed weren't lost to him and he concealed whatever feelings he had for them. He'll get an explanation in a little bit.
"Okay, Colonel, I think I owe you an explanation. Can I send the girls ahead to meet with their friends while you and I talk?" Ryan asked.
"Sure," Schmidt said and turned to his two subordinates. "You two, take these ladies to see their friends. I'm fine on my own."
"Yes sir!" They saluted and gestured for the girls to follow them, leaving only the two officers behind.
"Follow me," Schmidt gestured.
Ryan complied and the two walked the hundred or so yard distance to one of the hangars. They headed inside to escape the hot sun and noted that there wasn't anyone else there.
"Aside from a couple of Blackhawks that are already in top shape, nothing needs fixing here. So, it's just you and me here. You can tell me what you need to tell me," Schmidt said.
"Alright. What I'm about to tell you is absolutely insane, but it's no bullshit, Colonel. Brace yourself," Ryan began.
The Commander then divulged everything to the Colonel. The Sirens, the Kansens, and the situation as a whole. Sure it was condensed to save time but all the important bits were in there. Once that was done, Ryan held his tongue to give the man room to process it all. Although, the Colonel didn't say anything. Instead, he turned and headed to the wall where he sat on a chair before pulling out a pack of cigarettes from his breast pocket. He then put one in his mouth and pulled out a lighter. But when he flicked it open and spun the flint wheel no flame formed and he was quickly getting frustrated.
"Here, let me help you, Colonel," Ryan said, approaching the man, pulling out his matchbox, and lighting a flame.
Schmidt leaned forward to make it easier and promptly lit his cigarette. He took a few good puffs before leaning back to relax.
"Thanks, Commander," He replied hoarsely before exhaling the smoke. He sat in silence for a moment as he allowed the information to process some more before speaking again. "I think I need some whiskey and a lap dance."
"Yeah, that's about the same reaction I had when I was first told of this."
"Why are you telling me this, Commander, I thought you said it was classified?"
"It is classified to the highest degree, Colonel, but we know it's only a matter of time before you hear it on CNN anyway. It's better I tell you myself. Despite the size of the United States Military, we still can't cover the whole world, even with the help of our friends. The nature of the enemy is just too much for us, and sooner or later they'll attack a civilian area that we haven't covered, someone with a phone will record it and post it online, and the world goes to shit on its own. At this point, Washington is just scraping for time to better prepare for the inevitable shitstorm that's coming. Hell, I think they're more worried about that than the actual aliens out to get us," He explained.
"You know, I was wondering why the hell INDOPACOM sent us a fresh batch of brand new Patriot missiles and boxes full of Stingers. I guess that's why," He said with a chuckle. "What's Kwajalein's role in all this?"
"That's not my field, Colonel, you're gonna have to call INDOPACOM for that. But, I think they'll give you more stuff and tell you the same thing as everyone else: hunker down and brace," Ryan answered.
"That's probably one of the only things we can do on this tiny island," Schmidt muttered and took in another puff. "But we're going on the offensive, right? Specifically, you and those… girls?"
"They're as human as you and me, Colonel. They just happen to have the ability to snap Arnold Schwarzenegger in half," Ryan reminded. "But to answer your question, we're still getting our shit together and we have no intel on the enemy or how they cross into our world. For now, it's just intercepting the threats that worm their way in here. But if there's a center to them, you best believe we're gonna nuke it to kingdom come."
"Well, I'll save a cooler full of beer when that day comes," Schmidt said and stood up. "I'm freaked out as shit, but I'm hopeful you can give those motherfuckers a good whacking, Commander. Now, is there anything else you need?"
"Nothing else really, but I've got here a file containing procedures on how to deal with Sirens and Kansens alike. For the Sirens, it's basically just shoot-on-sight and shoot-to-kill," Ryan said as he pulled out a folder full of papers from his bag and handed it to him. "And oh yeah, our ride could use some gas."
Schmidt took the file and skimmed through the first couple of pages before humming in approval and turning to Ryan.
"I'll read through all of this later, and I'll get some fuel for your bird in a moment. But if this is all, then thank you very much, Commander, for helping us and the whole world, really," The Colonel said with a smile and an outstretched hand.
Ryan smiled back and gripped his hand then shook it. "Just doing our jobs, Colonel."
"Now, let's get back to your charges. Girls can get pretty antsy when they're left without attention," Schmidt joked, making Ryan chuckle as they walked back to the terminal.
Not much was said on the way back and once they arrived, Schmidt led Ryan to where the girls were which was a lobby area within the building. And when they entered the room, they saw multiple girls chatting and hugging it out as they caught up with everything. Some of whom he did not recognize. It was a truly heartfelt moment.
"This is your show, Ryan, and I've still got some errands to run, so I'll leave you to it," Schmidt said.
"Okay, thanks for having us, Colonel," Ryan said with a nod which the other officer returned before promptly leaving.
"Oh, there's the Commander!" Enterprise spoke up.
Multiple pairs of eyes turned to him so he took that as his cue, prompting him to smile and approach to introduce himself.
"Good morning, ladies. I'm sure you already know who I am, but if not, I am Commander Eric Halsey Ryan, United States Navy. It's a pleasure to meet you all today," He spoke.
The girls all smiled in varying degrees before each of them approached to introduce themselves. First up was a woman with long silver hair and orange eyes. She had on a very revealing outfit (especially down under) with two red hair ornaments on her head. He already guessed who she was.
"Ah, it's nice to finally have a face with a voice and a handsome one too," She said with a sultry tone and a sly grin.
He smiled. "I'm happy to see you too. It's Prinz Eugen, right?"
"Ja. So you're Die Kommandant? How long can you keep me amused? I'm looking forward to it," She said. "Mein Schwester has been talking about you non-stop since we reunited. Although seeing you now, it's unsurprising why she would take an interest in you."
"HAH?! Who would even like this dummkopf?!" Hipper shrieked with a red face but was ignored.
"Well, I aim to please. I'm glad I could meet that mark," He chuckled and then turned to his next greeting.
Second in line was a woman with brown hair in a bob cut with a single little braid on her right side and golden eyes. She also wore an outfit that revealed a lot of midriff. She flashed him a toothy grin and then waved.
"Hey, Commander, I'm the lead ship of Baltimore-class CAs, USS Baltimore CA-68! Within this fleet, I will fight for justice and freedom!" She introduced herself with a wide smile and outstretched hand.
"Baltimore?" He parrotted as he shook her hand before remembering something and smirking. "Hey, were you the boat sunk by a North Korean torpedo boat?"
Her eyes lit up as she grinned before she took on a fake sad expression.
"Yeah, I was. It… It was a terrible day! I was just a heavy cruiser passing by, and then I was attacked by the mighty Korean People's Navy! W-What could I have done against the forces of the glorious motherland?! I was too weak! Oh, Commander, it was terrible! Simply terrible!" She fake cried in an exaggerated dramatic tone while keeping herself from laughing.
Although, she and many others in the room would laugh anyway as it became too much to contain.
"I can't believe someone remembers that!" She laughed while whipping tears from her eyes.
"Any reason to shit on the commies is always worth remembering," He stated.
"Ha, you said it!" She beamed and then remembered something. "Oh, right! Here's my sister too!"
He turned to see another woman as tall as Baltimore with bright pink hair with blue highlights at the tips tied in twin tails and pink eyes. She wore an outfit that showed a lot of skin, including what barely passes as a crop top. She smiled and saluted.
"Hi, Commander Ryan! I'm the Baltimore-class heavy cruiser, USS Bremerton CA-130!" She introduced.
"Hey, Miss Bremerton. It's a pleasure to meet you," He greeted politely.
"The pleasure's all mine! Oh, by the way, mind telling me your name, birthday, and favorite thing?" She asked with a sly grin.
"Hey now, don't get ahead of yourself. Let's save that for later between a candlelit dinner and some wine," He snarkily stated.
She giggled. "Maybe it's you who's getting of themself, Commander!"
"I'm just reacting to what's happening around me. I assumed that you either want dinner or you're a shrink."
She laughed. "It's funny you say that because I happen to provide counseling services for the fleet."
"Oh really? That's awesome!" He said with some awe.
"Yup! And going by the direction things are going, I guess I'll be providing my services for this fleet too, huh?"
"That's something you can decide for later. We're not technically done here yet," He said.
Counseling? Yeah, this fleet is definitely gonna need a lot of that. Including me… He thought before closing his talk with her and moving to the next lady.
This one he knew he had to tread carefully with. Standing at only probably 4'8 feet, she was the shortest of everyone here. She had long black hair and aquamarine-colored eyes. She wore a black long-sleeved top under a black capelet with both clothes having golden linings buttons and chains as well as a golden aiguillette connecting both pieces of clothing. She also wore a Glengarry bonnet with her badge, a red kilted skirt, white gloves, white thigh highs, and black boots with golden linings.
She looked up at him and gave him a soft smile before
"Greetings, Commander Ryan. I am the Queen Elizabeth-class super-dreadnought, HMS Barham (04). Although I am a long way from home, I pray that I can be of service here," She greeted with an outstretched hand.
Despite having quite a hint of a Scottish accent and a reserved tone, she spoke in a commanding and dignified voice as if she was royalty. But considering the QEs are at the very top of the Royal Navy hierarchy, that's exactly right. So, Ryan acted accordingly. The Commander dropped down onto one knee so that he was at her level before gingerly taking her hand and kissing the back of her fingers.
"I'm honored to be in the presence of someone of your stature," He said with a smile.
From her brief talk with Belfast just moments ago, Barham was able to deduce that the Commander was a friendly enough man despite being a tad of a workaholic. Another key characteristic of his was that he was an American, thus unfamiliar with the customs she is associated with. Wanting to make a good impression and avoid any conflict, she opted for a simple handshake over any royal customs. So, she was quite stupefied when this man took her hand and kissed it in a very respectful manner. And it wasn't just her, most of the other girls were quite taken aback themselves but remained quiet.
"M-My… I did not expect you to be such a character, Commander Ryan," She spoke as she retracted her hand while keeping her other on her chest. She was also trying to keep the blush on her face at a minimum.
"A lady of your stature must be treated accordingly after all," He replied as he stood back up. Then, he took a more serious expression when he noticed everyone staring. "But with my limited knowledge of aristocratic matters, this was my best idea. If you feel that I had been inappropriate or overstepped boundaries, please tell me now and I will apologize."
"N-No, you have not. You've done well!" Barham quickly said with a shake of her head. "However I must ask, where did you learn such things?"
"Uhh," He spoke while awkwardly rubbing the back of his head. "I got it from a few movies and shows I've watched. Does that count?"
Barham and a few other girls chuckled. "Well, if it continues to teach you as well as I've seen, keep it up. I see nothing wrong, don't worry."
"Thank you, I was afraid I caused a diplomatic incident back there," Ryan chuckled
He'd move on a moment later. As he moved to the next girl, Barham had made a gesture with her index finger and Belfast appeared by her side a moment later. They then whispered to each other with covered mouths for a few moments before giggling. He tensed, that can't be good. But nothing he can do about it at the moment, he still has hands to shake.
The next girl did not strike him as anyone particularly special (for a shipgirl) at first glance. He knew he was wrong. She had long dark brown hair and bluish-green eyes. She wore a blue top with mid-length sleeves and a matching skirt that had cuts on either side. She also wore a tiny cap that hung off the side of her head, black gloves, white thigh-highs, and black boots. Actually, she looks quite similar to Pennsylvania. He also noticed that she had plastered on her left sleeve the seal of the State of Ari—
His eyes widened in realization. Oh my God—
"I am the second ship of the Pennsylvania-class battleships, born during summer, USS Arizona BB-39. Good day, Commander, it's nice to meet you," She greeted with a salute.
He kept his shock and awe in check and regarded her with a friendly expression, giving her a nod and handshake with a smile.
"It's an honor to meet you, Miss Arizona. Welcome back," He said.
"Thank you."
She smiled, although a bit uneasily, and returned the handshake. She also chose to not say anything else. Guessing she's just the shy type, Ryan just dropped it to not push her. If you have a history like Arizona, likely, you won't be in a talkative mood a lot. They'd break contact a moment later, and Ryan retreated to properly address them all.
"Again, it's an honor to meet all of you, and welcome back to the overworld, or however you call it," He said. "I assume all things are well? Does anyone need any medical attention or maybe just something to eat? Have the people here treated you nicely? Stuff like that?"
"Aside from minor damages that we can heal on our own, we have sustained no serious damages. And aside from a good meal and some rest, there's nothing we require. The people of this base have also been polite and accommodating, although I can sense that they're cautious around us, but I suppose that's unavoidable. However, I do find the lack of tea quite disturbing," Barnham explained to which her colleagues agreed.
"Well we are in the middle of nowhere, there's not much that can do about that," Ryan went along, causing her to smile. "Anyway, I'm glad to know you're all okay. So I'll give a brief rundown of the situation."
The Commander would spend another five minutes giving them a basic rundown of the situation while the girls listened intently.
"... And that's about the gist of it. The operation here has concluded and we're just waiting to regroup and for new orders. But aside from a couple more patrols, I'm sure we'll be heading back to Pearl immediately," He finished.
Arizona perked up. "To Pearl Harbor, sir?"
Ryan instantly knew what she might be thinking and answered cautiously. "Yes, it's where we're based.
"I see."
"Anyway, the other two fleets will rendezvous with us in a few hours. I suggest you use that time to pick yourselves up and reorganize. Once I've assessed the fleet and received new orders, we're moving at a moment's notice. We'll deal with everything else once we get back to base. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Good. Again, good day to you all, and we'll see each other again later."
Ryan left shortly after, both to continue with the rest of the errands and to continue giving the girls some space to continue their reunion. There was more in store later, but some of them were already here so why not.
"You've found quite an interesting character, Schwester," Prinz Eugen remarked playfully.
Hipper just grunted. "He's not that different from the other Dummkopf Kommandant. But, at least his brain works correctly, that's all that matters."
"Oh my, so you've already found someone that catches your interest, ja? As expected from mein liebe Schwester," Eugen teased.
"Hah?! Who would even like someone like him?!" Hipper screeched with a slight blush on her face.
"Oh how I've missed your overreactions," The younger cruiser giggled before latching onto the elder and trapping her in a tight hug.
"Hah?! What are you—"
"Please. Let me have this," Eugen cut off softly but curtly, leaving no room for argument as she hugged a little tighter. "I really am glad that you're safe and in good health, Schwester. I've missed you so much."
Prinz Eugen may act in a way that many would describe as eccentric, but a lot of that was to conceal how she truly felt. A lot like her. So now that she has chosen to quit the act and be forward like right now showed the depth of her feelings. It would be wrong for Hipper to deny that, and truthfully, she had missed her sisters very much as well. Hipper also knew when to be a good Groẞer Schwester.
"I'm glad that you are too, Schwester," Hipper said softly as she hugged back, dispensing her own act and making it fair.
"How have you been?"
"Well, for the most part. They've been nice to us, but their bier is terrible."
"Hah, I know. I used to be an American ship," Eugen laughed.
Hipper actually laughed along as they separated. "And then they dropped an atomic bomb on you, but that's in the past. How are the others?"
"Worried, just like me, but it varies. I'd say Blücher most of all since she had cried for three days straight. Tallinn has been drinking a lot lately, but she always has been. And Weser is doing rather well. All of them have been recalled back to the Baltic to counter an increase in Siren activity there, however, and we've all been busy in general, so I haven't gotten the chance to speak to them," Eugen explained.
"So they're fine-ish," Hipper concluded. Her sisters, although they're all very weird, were strong people and she knew they'd pull through. But that won't stop her from worrying herself. Then, she realized something. "Wait, recalled?"
"Ja, the Northern Parliament recalled all their ships a month ago. They're not withdrawing from Azur Lane, but it's clear that something has happened," Eugen answered. "And it's not just them, the other factions have started recalling some of their ships back to their countries too."
"I think our disappearances have something to do about it. What does Frau Bismarck say about all this?"
"She's still waiting for more info before forming any assumption. But everyone's gotten very quiet lately, even the Abwehr is struggling."
"I see," Hipper said under her breath. "Write down what you know and prepare two copies of it. One for Frau Gneisenau and another for the Kommandant. He and his bosses will want to know this."
"Sure. Anything else?"
Hipper clenched her jaw before speaking again. "... Can I spend time with you later, j-just the two of us? Don't get any ideas now! Frau Gneisenau will ask for a report from me, so I need to make something up.
Eugen grinned, nodding and accepting her sister's request. "Of course, Schwester. Anything for you."
"Danke," Hipper sighed. "Anything else you need to do here?"
"Aside from driving my hull out of the atoll, there's nothing. Although…" She trailed off as she turned her head to face the direction of where a certain shipwreck laid would be. "I'd like to leave some tributes at my original body."
"I see. I'll help you then," Hipper said.
Eugen smiled softly. "Danke."
Business would be concluded an hour and a half later with most of the girls choosing to hop on the helicopter to ferry them out to sea. But, some stayed behind to get out of the atoll in the 'normal' way while also doing some of their own personal activities.
Prinz Eugen stood on her deck underneath a tarp to protect herself from the sun while making the last inspections on the flower wreath on the table. She had been freed from her moorings and pushed away by tugboats just earlier and was now cruising along at a steady 8 knots. But, she prepared to stop once she reached a certain point in the atoll.
"And for the final touch," She said mostly to herself before reaching for a small box in the side and opening it, revealing a Knight's Cross medal within. She pulled it out and placed it on the wreath as the final detail.
And then she picked it up to make a final inspection of her handiwork. Just before leaving port, she dropped by a nearby flower shop to pick up the wreath along with an assortment of other things with some money Hipper gave her. The wreath was adorned with black, red, and white roses and matching ribbons to make up the colors of her national flag. Well, former national flag…
"Oh," Ryan trailed off as he stared at the very familiar battle flag of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine. The swastika slightly offset from the center was the
"Is there a problem?" Eugen asked as she showed him the standard.
"Well, a lot of people hate anything that has a swastika. Using that will cause both you and me trouble, so please do not," He requested.
"I see."
"Personally, I don't have a problem with it. The swastika is a historical symbol and it has to be preserved. But there are so many people that will literally freak out if they see one. Their hatred isn't exactly unfounded, but it's ridiculous sometimes," Ryan frowned. "I know a guy who was slandered and called a Nazi for stating historical facts. Some people are just ill-informed or don't care."
"I understand," Eugen said and looked down at the flag. "I'm happy to be separated from the Reich. After all, they abandoned us. But, my crew died serving the Fatherland and this is still their flag. I think it's only appropriate."
"Yeah. But, the flag is still a problem. I'm sorry. However, you can replace the flag with something else that bears the same colors. It should still have the same value without pissing many people off."
"Hm, you know, that's a good idea."
"And you should also replace the flag on your hull. I think your friends have a spare modern Deutsche Marine ensign with them. Just ask for one. And if there are any more concerns, just tell me."
She smiled. "Nice to actually have support and a place in this fleet. Vielen danke, Herr Kommandant."
He smiled as well. "As long as you reject any and all notions of Nazism or anything alike, and instead embrace freedom and tolerance, then you will always have a place in this fleet."
The conversation earlier inspired her to make this instead of displaying the old flag. And if she was being honest, it looked better than simply planting a flag.
"Wunderbar," She said.
Prinz Eugen then stepped back and engaged her rigging before picking up the wreath and jumping off the ship. She glided across the water's surface before slowing as she approached her overturned former hull.
"Hallo, it's been a long time, hm?" She said before placing the wreath on the shaft and securing it. She then moved back a bit and snapped a proud salute at the wreckage. "Thank you for your service to das Vaterland und die Männer. You've been a good body."
Afterward, she simply returned to her ship and continued to exit the atoll. Although, this was only just a small token. When she gets back to Deutschland, then she'll do more. If she gets back.
The sun was just starting to set when the other two fleets appeared on the horizon and it would be three-fourths of the way down when they finally closed. When they met, various friends and family immediately went to greet each other with hugs and positive words.
"PENNY!" Arizona yelled as she pounced on her sister and wrapped her in a tight hug while burying her face into her neck. "I'm so glad you're alright!"
Pennsylvania would have fallen over had she not positioned herself to take her sister's weight. But despite that, she still returned the hug tightly with similar emotions.
"I'm happy you're alright too, sis," She whispered, enjoying the heartfelt moment.
"What the hell happened? How'd you guys get here?" Arizona asked as she separated a few moments later.
"It's really hard to explain. We have no idea how we got here, and the guys here are even more clueless than we are," She answered.
"What about the people here, have they treated you right?"
"Yeah, they. They're a bit finicky with us and a lot of them stare, but that's pretty much expected. Otherwise, they're taking care of us and giving us everything we need."
"That's good to hear," Arizona sighed. She could tell that Ryan was being genuine with his words, but she just had to make sure. "So, what now?"
Pennsylvania shrugged. "I guess we just wait for orders."
While most of the girls had their fun, Ryan and the other flagships met on Enterprise's hull to give their reports and discuss the next course of action.
"... I see," Ryan said after they concluded their reports, analyzing the two shipgirls that had a few light bruises on them. "But are you sure you both are alright?"
"It's completely normal to be a tad bit scuffed up after a fight, Commander. We'll live," Warspite replied.
"Yes you will, but can you still engage in a prolonged fight?"
"We've still got a couple more days of fuel and ammo, but any longer than that and it'll be advisable to return to base to restock. However, the missile boats assigned to us are dry. They need to get back now," Essex reported, stretching her arms a bit. "And if I'm being honest, sir, I kinda wanna go home too."
"Mhmm, me too. But we'll have to hold on for just a bit longer. Should we expect more from the enemy after this engagement?"
"We gave them a thorough beat down, so they should stay back until they can rearm and reorganize. Although, it's important to remain alert," Essex replied.
"And on top of that, I think this was a probing attack, Commander. A test. Maybe even one just for you," Warspite added.
"Yeah, that's what I'm thinking too," Ryan said. "But it comes with the job, I guess. This is why you don't salute in country. Anyway, if that's all, then you're both dismissed. I gotta send my report to the top and find out what's next. Standby for orders till then."
"Yes, Commander!" They saluted before leaving the room to do other things.
Ryan pulled out his satellite phone from his desk drawer and dialed a number. He then put it to his ear and listened to the brief ringing noise before someone picked up.
"Heya, Ryan! Did you have a successful hunting trip?" Thorson asked.
"Yes, sir, Admiral, sir! We had a fruitful run with multiple bucks down, I think we've culled the population a bit too. We shouldn't be seeing any of them around for some time," He replied.
"I see," The Admiral said and sighed. "Anyway, very well done, Commander. You and the girls bought us time to prepare for a major headache."
"Just doing our jobs, sir."
"'Kay. Anyway, you can just send me a detailed report through email, let's not waste time talking here. In fact, you're waiting for new orders, right?"
"Yes, sir. We've anchored just off of Kwajalein after picking up more lost Kansen. We'll bring them in for documentation and debriefing."
"Yeah, I've already heard it from Cameron. We're already making preparations to take them in. But I wanna ask, who did we pick up?"
"We've got another whole fleet of them, sir, a mix from different nations too. But the most prominent ones are the rest of the Kidō Butai, KMS Prinz Eugen, Missouri BB-63, and Arizona BB-39… Yes, sir. We've got her back too."
"... I see," Thorson breathed. "How are they all doing?"
"They've got a few light bruises and are pretty tired, but everybody's fine. Once they get to port, they'll feel much better. Speaking of which, I think we should head back immediately too. The girls say they're fine but our boats are all dry. Port Royal has also sustained some damage too, nothing fatal, but their 49 is down. We need to get back to rest, repair, rearm, and most importantly, rework our tactics," Ryan explained.
"Aye. I was about to ask that anyway," Thorson said. "Commander, these are your new orders: exit the AO and immediately return to base with our new guests and anyone that needs attention. However, leave at least a pair of smaller fleets with adequate fighting capabilities to make sure the enemy is indeed neutralized.
"The submarines Topeka, Sante Fe, Texas, and North Carolina should be entering the area of the Marshall Islands right now too. Sorry, they were a little late. They've got a full load of AShMs and torps ready to shoot. They'll cover your retreat," He added.
"Yes, Admiral!"
"Make sure to treat them with due courtesy until then. And show them the way home, Commander."
"Of course, sir."
"Alright, that's all. Everything else will be discussed at base. Good night, Ryan."
"Good night to you as well, Admiral."
And with that, the transmission ended. The Commander turned off the phone and put it back in his desk drawer before leaning back in his chair and stretching. Afterward, he popped another cigarette in his mouth, lit it, and took in a deep puff before exhaling. In moments, he felt his body relax.
"I'll give 'em an hour to catch up, then I'll do something," He said before opening up the GUNKAN app to check the ammo and fuel levels of each ship to draft up the next plan.
It ended up taking another half-hour, but at least he was able to review the fleets thoroughly. He was also able to talk to the COs of the missile ships attached to the other fleets, specifically the DDGs Hopper, Halsey, Chafee, and Chung-Hoon. All four ships had also expended their ordnance with only a handful of missiles left on each ship. Not to mention their fuel was getting kinda low too. So, they had to go home.
"Alright, could I have your attention, please," He called out to the crowd of Kansen in front of him.
All the girls had gathered on Enterprise's deck to receive their orders. He'd already spoken to the COs of the other ships and sent them their orders. Now it was just the Kansen left without anything.
"Good evening and thank you for gathering here tonight. I know many of you are still confused, and truthfully, we are as well. But what's been established is that you are now here, at home, or at least much closer to it. And since we got you first, you all are now under the care of the United States of America, you don't need to be worried about anything. You will be taken care of and your rights will be respected, I promise you that. Ask your friends, they can vouch for us," He explained. "Any other concerns will just have to wait. Our objective right now is to return to base where we can properly process you and everything else can come later. Is that understood?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Good. Now, here are your orders. I'm splitting Task Forces 2 and 3 will be split to Task Forces 2.1 and 2.2, and Task Forces 3.1 and 3.2. TF 2 will remain here and patrol the Marshall Islands for a couple of days more to make sure the enemy really is dead while TF 3 will cover our flanks as we head back. Task Force 1 will remain the same, but the newcomers will be attached to us. I've already sent the fleet compositions to our group chat, please just refer to that. And if there are no questions, you may all return to your hulls to prepare to get underway. Once everyone is ready, we set sail for Naval Station Pearl Harbor. We'll also eat dinner once underway too. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Commander!"
"Good."
And with that, the girls departed for their hulls to begin to set sail. And it won't even take long until they're all finally underway again. But this time, their course was set for home.
Date: 03/28/2016
Time: 1508 hours (GMT+12)
Location: 20° 08' 14.8" N, 172° 53' 02.6" W North Pacific Ocean
Approximately 72 hours had passed since they left Kwajalein, and so far, nothing of note has happened. Thank God. It's been smooth sailing since and Task Force 2 had reported an all clear when they finished their patrol pattern and were now heading back as well.
Well, Enterprise thought it'd be okay to conduct 'classes' with Best immediately just the day after, however. With the Commander's approval of course. And already, the young pilot was feeling the strain, so he was allowed to take a break for today. But, the kid showed conviction, and neither officer nor warship could deny that. Besides, Enterprise kinda liked playing teacher. It was fun, but aside from that, nothing particularly interesting was happening.
Until that moment…
Ryan was peacefully admiring the ocean as the fleet sailed at a steady 18 knots. He was halfway through a cup of coffee when there was a knock behind him.
"Eric, you've got a call on the radio," Enterprise told him.
"Aight. I'll be right there," He replied, turning and heading back inside the bridge, and picking up the radio. "This is KANCOM, what's the matter?"
"Commander, I think I just came across something that might concern you," Yorktown told him from the other end of the wireless.
"Okay, let's hear it then," He obliged as he took a sip from his cup.
"Well, my scouts just stumbled on a strange warship on their CAP pattern. It's at a bearing of 2-9-5 degrees and a range of 130 nautical miles from the fleet's location, sir," She reported.
"Warship?" He questioned, putting his cup down.
"It's a bit hard to see, but the sharp features and the two forward gun turrets are clear indicators it's a warship, Commander. Although, it's not a Siren ship and it's not American too," She clarified.
"So, someone else is here then," He muttered. But who?
"It does have a flag flying from the stern, a blue saltire on a white background. And it has a hull number of 564," She added.
Blue saltire? 564? Somehow, those sounded familiar. Scarily too. He racked his brain for a moment until—
"Yorktown, get your aircraft away from that ship right now!" He suddenly demanded.
"U-Uh, yes, Commander!" Yorktown, though caught off guard, quickly complied.
"All ships, avoid contact with any vessel that does not fly the American flag! Let's avoid an international incident please," He immediately followed up with the rest of the fleet.
"What was it, Eric?" Enterprise asked.
He sighed before putting the radio down. "That was a Udaloy-class guided missile destroyer. Specifically the Admiral Tributs of the Voyenno-morskoi flot, more commonly known as the Russian Navy. It was a Russian ship that Yorktown just stumbled upon."
"Russians?" Enterprise repeated with a raised eyebrow, now quite curious.
"Yeah, Russkies. They're no longer the Red Menace we've come to hate and fear, but we also haven't been the best of friends lately. We don't hate each other, but we're not in the mood to talk too."
It also begs the question: what the hell are Russians doing all the way out here?
"What happened?" Enterprise asked.
"A lot of things that require a whole lesson on geopolitics to understand. I'll brief you all on it in the future as part of the history lesson I'm gonna give to you girls," He answered.
"Okay," She said and noted something else. "You also don't seem too enthusiastic about talking with them."
"Politics is very dirty. As I've said, I don't wanna cause an international incident. Besides, I don't think I'm allowed to talk to Russians, and if I'm being honest, I don't want to myself. I haven't written or spoken Russian in five years. I could be insulting their mother while trying to say 'good morning,'" He joked.
Enterprise giggled a bit and noted something else. "You speak Russian?"
"To some degree, yeah. I learned the language when I was sent to spend a year in the Kuznetsov Naval Academy back when times were… better. I also visited Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Vladivostok and did all the fun tourist things."
"Look at you, Mister Worldwide," She joked with a light giggle. "What was it like, the Naval College?"
"The instruction was pretty good, some of the guys I studied with ended up climbing up pretty high in the vine last I heard. But of course, Annapolis and the Naval War College all the way! Nothing beats good old American instruction," He proclaimed with a grin, flashing his class ring too.
"I'm starting to see more of why they picked you for this job," She commented.
"Eh, lots of officers can speak Russian. I guess I just happen to be able to shoot too."
"What about that, you said you were Special Forces too, right? Can you tell me more about that, if it's okay of course?" She asked.
His smile faltered a bit but he managed to keep it up. "I can tell you a few things. That okay?"
She smiled brightly. "Yeah, that's great."
"'Kay. Although I have to warn you, none of them are as cool as striking three carriers in one day," He said playfully.
"Aw c'mon, I'm sure they're cool in their own right," She retorted.
Ryan began his stories while the fleet continued their voyage home. However, none of them would spot the metal rod protruding from the ocean surface. The submarine's periscope would observe the fleet from a distance away for a minute more before descending back down and disappearing into the deep dark blue…
The Russian warship had sailed at a heading parallel to theirs while keeping the distance for a few hours before turning north and away from the fleet. And that was it, they didn't even have any sensors up; no radar or towed sonar array, nor did they even launch their onboard Ka-27 helicopter to do something.
It was very strange for a Russian warship (or any warship that isn't American) to be operating so far from home territory. Last he checked, there were no international exercises in that area. Besides, what business could they have in the middle of nowhere? Not of it made sense. Then again, the Russians were infamous for not making sense, that's what made them so dangerous. He told HQ about it who just told him to stay the hell away from it while they looked into the matter. But he had an uneasy feeling as he wondered what their best buddies from the east knew that they didn't.
But, aside from that, nothing else has happened. So, they allowed themselves to relax, especially now that they were in the range of quick air cover from Hawaii. Speaking of which…
"Here they come," Ryan pointed.
From a distance away, a formation of three aircraft swiftly approached. And moments later, two F-22A Raptors and one B-1B Lancer flew over the fleet at low altitude. The Raptors were flanking the Lancer as they were arranged in a wedge formation. The formation passed over loudly, going at around 600 km/h with the Lancer having its wings fully swept. Afterward, the bomber and fighters climbed back into the sky. Once they found out who was coming, the flyboys arranged a little show of force to let them know they were in good hands.
"Courtesy of the Kansas and Hawaii Air National Guards, and of course, the American taxpayer. Gas and spare parts for those things are crazy expensive," Ryan said as he picked up the radio. "Razor, Kestrel, thanks for the little airshow, the girls loved it. See y'all back at base, over."
"No problem, KANCOM. See you around too," A female voice replied.
"Alright, now that's over with, time for the next activity of the day…"
The main event for the day was packing up their hulls and transferring over to the missile boats where they'll spend the rest of the trip until they dock. They couldn't exactly just waltz in there and dock, they were still secret. Most things were already packed up but some things still needed to be worked on. And that included a briefing on what to do when they get there.
"Okay, now that we're in the home stretch, it's time that I brief you all on a few things about Pearl. Nothing very serious, just a few, uh, 'house rules', you could say," He announced. "Basically, Pearl Harbor is also the site of a national monument, it's not just a military base. It's an exceptionally important place, we're all expected to act a certain way."
The girls nodded, understanding what he was trying to say. They were all very familiar with the concept of sacred grounds and knew how to act around them. It was only common sense to show respect to memorials of the fallen. Even the most rambunctious of Kansens knew when to behave. After all, they all knew what death was. But what they didn't know was what the memorial was… Except for one…
"My… My dead body is still there. Isn't it, Commander?" Arizona asked, cautiously and quietly that it was almost a whisper.
"Yes," Ryan replied, choosing not to omit any fact. "In case you don't know, USS Arizona's wreck remains there to this day where it has been turned into a national memorial. It's also a gravesite for almost half of the sailors and Marines killed that day. As you know, we couldn't get them out in time."
"I see," She said quietly. "Can I see them?"
"Of course. We just need to document your arrival first. Kind of like going through customs in an airport—"
"No," Arizona said firmly as she shook her head and clenched her fists. "I need to see them now, Commander."
A lot of the girls were rather surprised by this kind of behavior coming from someone as soft-spoken as Arizona, but considering what she wanted to do, they underwood. Ryan knew this too, and considering the steely look in the girl's eyes, he also knew there was no room for arguments. Besides, how can he keep her away from what's hers?
"Very well, you can go and see your crew as soon as we dock," He replied.
"Shikikan-sama!" Akagi called out.
"Yes, Miss Akagi?"
The kitsune carrier shifted a bit as she took a deep breath which was another thing that surprised them as Akagi wasn't the type to be so nervous. She then exhaled and spoke.
"We'd also like to pay our respects to the dead. Would it be possible to join Arizona-san?" She asked.
Ryan thought about it and turned to said battleship. "Is it okay with you?"
The brunette super dreadnought locked eyes with the fleet carrier and stared at her with a cold expression, analyzing her. Akagi on her part simply held her ground and stared back. Only God knew what was not said in the tense silent conversation before Arizona turned back and nodded.
"It's okay, sir," She replied.
"Okay. Is there anyone else that would like to tag along?" He asked.
"I'd like to as well, Shikikan," Hiryuu replied. He found it interesting, since if he remembers correctly, it was a bomb from one of her planes that detonated Arizona's magazine.
"Alright. Any more?" He asked again and got multiple raised hands, causing him to sigh. "Alright then, I think we can put off all the protocols later. It's probably best you get settled down first, you all must be tired. I'll just note your arrival in my initial report. Anyway, here are the rules."
Ryan would then explain to them the rules and protocols they must follow when they get to Pearl. One of the most important details was that they had to man the rails as they enter the harbor to pay respects to Arizona and her crew. Afterward, they were dismissed and allowed to return to their hulls to make final preparations.
Ryan and Best were picked up by a Seahawk and left Enterprise to do the last things on the list. The fleet then slowed to a stop and simply stayed put as the girls made their final act. Just like when they began, multiple bright lights shone across the water, but instead of revealing massive steel hulls in their stead, the opposite happened with those hulls disappearing, leaving only multiple humanoid figures skating across the surfaces. The girls then glided towards a ship and simply hopped aboard them.
"Welcome aboard the USS Port Royal, ladies. We hope you enjoy your stay," Captain Ferguson greeted. "Uh, we've set up a bunch of mattresses and sleeping bags in the officer's quarters, although it's not much."
"We won't be staying long, so it's more than enough, Captain. Thank you," Yorktown smiled.
"Alrighty then! Allow me to show you where you'll stay," He gestured.
"What about me, where do I bunk?" Ryan asked.
"Oh, we've got one for you in the hangar," Ferguson answered casually and without a second thought.
"Gee, thanks," Ryan sighed to their laughs.
The Commander and the girls would settle down shortly after and simply relax as they waited to get a shore. That is until Vestal arrived on board to start her checks on them. She was displeased to see even the tiniest bruises on them but shook it off. However, should would flip out when she heard about Best's stunt from Hornet who forgot to stop talking. She was ferocious, going down on the poor kid for doing something so reckless before turning to a carrier who failed to slip away and letting her have it too. She also scolded Ryan for letting Enterprise mentor him, but it was very light compared to the other two. He already knew it, but he was again reminded that the Doc doesn't care who you are, they'll let you have it.
Hours later, the sun went down and dinner was served. It was their only meal before they docked so it wasn't anything too great but also special for the girls. They shared some laughs as they exchanged jokes and stories, filling the mess hall with life. Afterward, they passed the time by exploring the ship or doing other things. Multiple sailors tested their luck with them but were quickly sunk. The onboard vending machine was raided by two cruisers and a destroyer. Some ships such as Ayanami only played games on her phone with some of the crew. And other things that passed the time. Pictures were forbidden to prevent leaks which was a bummer, but some were still able to sneak some through. Of course, they still knew better than to leak it and risk the CIA coming for their heads. Eventually, all that came to an end as they approached the island of Oahu in the dark of the night. And that left one of the last things to do aboard.
"We are entering Pearl Harbor. All hands, prepare to man the rails," A voice through the 1-MC announced, prompting various personnel to speed up their movements.
"How do I look?" Ryan asked. He was wearing a spare dress uniform that Captain Ferguson had lent him as long as he promised to buy him a couple of beers tomorrow.
Enterprise had a hand on her chin as she carefully scanned every bit of his uniform. Moments later, she delicately placed her hands on him and spoke.
"It's just a bit wrinkly," She replied as she straightened out the uniform.
"Really? Damn. I had a bit of a hard time putting this on, must've gotten wrinkled when I threw it around," He said. "Guess, I'm pretty tired."
"Operations like this are pretty taxing. I'm pretty beat myself," She stated and finished, smiling a bit afterward. "There we go, much better."
"Thanks, Enterprise. Although you didn't have to, it wasn't much at all."
"Nonsense, it's my job to help you," She smiled. "Besides, we're accompanying Arizona later. We gotta look good for that."
"Oh yeah, I suppose there's that," He sighed. "Be prepared for anything, but I hope everything goes fine."
"I know."
"Danny, you good yet?"
"Almost there, sir," He replied as he rushed to fix his (also borrowed) uniform.
"Here, let me help you," Enterprise said as she approached him to help out, grabbing the necktie and fixing it.
"Thanks, Miss Enterprise. But, you didn't have to though."
"Maybe not, but I want to!" She retorted, a bit annoyed. "What is it with you men and insisting on doing everything on your own? It's okay to ask for help sometimes, it doesn't. God, you know you're just like that one over there."
"What?" Ryan questioned but was ignored.
"Besides, I thought that maybe you traded off a few things, like properly fixing yourself, for your flying skills. Just needed to make sure you're healthy," She added, causing a few chuckles.
"You seem to be awfully finicky about this, Miss Enterprise," He noted.
She sighed. "Long story short, I've been there and I've done that. And it sucks. I just don't like anybody going through the same thing okay?" She asked as she finished her assistance.
He nodded. "Yes, ma'am. Thank you, again."
She nodded back and glanced over to Ryan. "Same goes for you, Commander. You may be my superior officer, but I won't hesitate to knock some sense into you if I have to."
He smiled. "I won't expect anything less from you."
They bantered and laughed for a couple of minutes more before heading to meet up with the others. But not before a certain pair of eyes happened to stumble upon them fooling around. She would arrive at a mundane conclusion to her observation but decided to make a little note of it in the back of her mind. Now there were more important things to do.
Crew members of the ship stood at ease side by side along the railing of the ship as it entered the harbor. Tug boats were waiting before it even got to the entrance, and now they were escorting the missile cruiser as it passed through. And then, they were finally in and approaching the docks. The crew stood their posts, but they weren't alone as the Kansens occupied some spaces on the exterior of the ship too.
Hey is that me? That's me! Haha! And that's… oh… oh my God… Missouri internally squealed in delight when she saw her ship before all her joyful feelings were shattered when she saw the structure in front of it. She promptly went stiff and quiet as she prepared to salute.
She wasn't alone. Multiple girls noted the memorial and the wreck just a stone's throw away but contained any emotions they had for the time being. Arizona most especially. She began to tremble, but after taking a deep breath, she steeled herself and held on. Just a bit longer.
There was a whistle and an order through the intercom. "Hand salute."
Everyone manning the rails brought their right arms up into a sharp salute as they held their ground. The ship moved at a slow speed as it entered the harbor, and eventually, as it passed through the wreck of Arizona. Traditionally, manning the rails was something done by every navy as their vessels as a custom when entering or leaving port, or to render honors. In this case, those honors belonged to Arizona and her crew, and it just became a tradition within Pearl Harbor since then.
Entering the harbor also filled the crew's hearts with pride and joy. After a successful mission to serve her country, sustaining cuts and bruises as she went along, the USS Port Royal was now finally back home with no losses or critical damages. And she brought back some who were away for a long time too. They maintained that salute until the ship was ready to be moored, prompting the crew to disperse to do their tasks as the ship was tied up. They would dock within Bravo Pier, where the smaller surface combat vessels of the fleet would be tied up at. Afterward, a gangway was connected from the pier to the ship and allowed the complement to disembark. The first one off was Ryan, but before he walked down the gangway, he put a hand on the ship's railing and spoke.
"Congratulations on a job well done, Port Royal. Take a break, you need it," He said and patted the railing before continuing. Looking back, he saw Enterprise giving him an inquisitive look.
"Are you developing some sort of superstition, sir?" She asked.
He shrugged. "Kind of. Does the steel remember too?"
She smirked. "Who knows?"
That's the best answer he'll get out of her, and he didn't know what to think. He turned to the well-lit pier below and saw the CINCPAC in dress uniform, some personnel, and a whole squad of Navy Honor Guards. Once on the ground, he approached the Admiral who did the same.
"Ryan, Jesus Christ, you look like shit," Thorson commented.
"All in the day's work, Admiral," He replied nonchalantly.
"Well, thank you for doing a great job. Also…" Thorson said and pulled something out of his jacket pocket. "Here."
Ryan took it; it was a brown cylindrical thing that was wrapped in paper it seemed. And then he realized what it was, causing his eyes to widen a bit. He looked up at the Admiral again to see him smirking a bit.
"I was gonna give that to you later, but you look like you need it now," He said.
"T-Thank you very much, sir," Ryan replied with a swallow before looking back. "But, I'll save it for later. We've got an image to uphold for some gorgeous ladies after all."
"Ah, right. Good call."
They waited as each Kansen stepped off from Port Royal and John Paul Jones, which had also just docked, and onto the pier. They gathered into a group and waited until they were complete. The last one off was Arizona who was assisted by her sister. She carefully descended the gangway, stopping at the bottom of it. Then, she finally stepped off and onto the pier. She took a few steps before her legs felt weak, causing her to stumble.
"Whoa! Whoa!" Best exclaimed as he quickly rushed to catch her.
"Ari!" Pennsylvania exclaimed as she also rushed to her aid. Multiple others approached but stopped just near her to let her have her space while still being close enough to help.
"Ma'am, are you okay?" Best asked.
"... I-I'm fine. I just… need to catch my breath," She replied hoarsely as she inhaled deep breaths.
"You don't have to force yourself, sis," Pennsylvania reminded her softly, but she just shook her head.
"No. I've been waiting for this moment for so long. I need my crew," Arizona stated firmly before pushing herself up and falling in line.
Ryan and Thorson saw it, of course, but one look at the girl's face made clear that there was no opportunity for an argument. This prompted the higher-ranking officer to simply step forward and continue with the plan.
"Attention on deck!" Someone yelled, prompting all the girls to straighten up and bring their arms up to a salute. This action was returned by the Admiral shortly after, allowing them to lower their arms as well.
"Good evening ladies, my name is Admiral Andrew Lee Thorson, United States Navy Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet. It's an honor to meet all of you and I personally welcome you all here in Pearl Harbor, the State of Hawaii, and the United States of America," He greeted. "I hope we can all get better acquainted and work well together in the future. But seeing as it's late and you're all likely very tired, I agreed with Commander Eric Ryan to let you go to settle down for the time being. We've set up temporary living spaces for you for now until you can move to somewhere better, but if you choose to live with friends or family that is already settled here, then that is fine. Go ahead and rest, we can talk business later. Is that alright?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Wonderful," He said and turned his attention to a certain Kansen. "Miss Arizona?"
"Yes, Admiral?"
"I heard about your request from Commander Ryan and made the necessary preparations. If you would please follow me, I'll lead you to the ferry. Same with those who would like to come along," He gestured.
Thorson lead the way along with Ryan and the girls followed. There was a ferry docked just ahead and it wouldn't take long to get there. They began passing the line of Honor Guards that suddenly ordered 'present arms', lifting their M1 Garand rifles with bayonets affixed and holding them in front of them. The girls were surprised and confused for a moment before realizing the gesture is for them. They didn't know how to react with most choosing to quietly walk by with nothing but a friendly glance or a nod, although some were bold enough to return the salute. They walked to the end of the pier where a ferry boat was currently moored and serviced by a group of sailors.
"This is your ferry. Please step aboard and you'll be taken to the memorial," He gestured. "This is where we part ways, for now, I still have business to conclude here. Ryan, you take care of this."
"Yes, Admiral!"
"Faction reps, see to it that your comrades have what they need and a place to stay at least temporarily. You can deliver a report to me tomorrow," Ryan ordered.
"Yes, Commander!"
Thorson left shortly after, leading away those who were staying behind and allowing the group to board the ferry. Within the group was Ryan, Best, Enterprise, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Belfast, Z23, and the whole Kidō Butai carrier force. There were also a bunch of sailors to tend to the boat and act as armed escorts, not that 9mm bullets will do anything to warships. Belfast and Z23 were mostly just observers, Best was on recording duty, and Enterprise was unremovable from his side due to her duty as secretary ship. The real show came from the Pennsylvania-class sisters, Missouri, and the Kidō Butai.
On the short cruise to the memorial, they were told various facts about it and some reminders, all of which they listened to carefully. Except for Arizona, who kept her eyes locked onto the concrete and marble structure on top of her sunken hull. They docked at the little pier and prepared to get out as the ferry was tied up. Arizona went before anyone else with Ryan following after, however, he stopped just before his foot hit the deck before retracting it back. Many were confused but they'd get her answer when he'd looked at Arizona directly in her eyes with a flame within his.
"Arizona, permission to come aboard your ship?" He requested firmly.
She was rather shocked to hear that from him and momentarily did not know what to do. But after a moment and a deep breath, she responded.
"Granted, Commander Ryan," She replied.
Ryan nodded and carefully stepped onto the pier, and one by one, the rest of the girls would step on as well shortly after him. They walked the ramp and into the structure which had 'U.S.S ARIZONA MEMORIAL' engraved on top of the entrance. Those who had a hat on immediately removed them as a sign of respect. The inside was very spacious with multiple big openings all around. The girls took the time to clear this area first with Ryan doing his best to explain.
"Herr Kommandant, is that oil floating there?" Z23 asked, pointing at the substance mixed with the water surrounding the barbette of Turret No. 3. It was hard to see because it was dark, but it was there.
"Yes. Arizona had about 14 to 64 thousand gallons when she sunk, so now it's leaking out of her tanks, especially as her metal rusts and breaks over time," Ryan answered. "It's sometimes referred to as the 'tears of Arizona.' And they say that when the last Arizona survivor passes away, then the tears will stop. It's more superstition than fact, but I like to believe it's true."
"Isn't it concerning, the oil leak?"
"Oh, it is; it's been a concern for the local environmental office for some time now. But do we try and fix that only to desecrate a war grave? We cannot, it's too risky, we'll never forgive ourselves if we screw up like that," He explained. "The predictions do say that it's still a long time till something major happens. Hopefully, a better way would have been developed by then."
"It was 497,353 gallons, actually. I just topped off at the time," Arizona corrected as she also noted the oil slick. "I think I can help with the leak."
They continued to look around the place for some time more. Arizona herself took an interest in a sign next to a fenced opening on the ground. It showed a trio of divers with one holding an urn and a description regarding the internment of veteran survivors.
"Of the 335 survivors of your crew, some have chosen to be interned within your wreck. Navy SEAL divers would enter the wreck and place full of their ashes within. They're mostly within the barbette of Turret No. 4," Ryan explained, upon noticing where she's at.
"My crew… That reminds me, are… are any of them still left?" She asked carefully while turning to him.
"If I remember correctly, there are only five or six of them left. Some would come here every year during the anniversary of the attack. They'd speak or simply observe," He answered.
"I see," She breathed and shakily added. "Can… Can I see them?"
He frowned a bit. "I can't answer that, I'm afraid. There's still a secret we have to maintain. But perhaps you can, as long as you go by a false identity."
"Right. Of course," She nodded and walked away.
It was a surreal experience, especially for the girls of the Kidō Butai. Never in a million years would they have imagined that they'd be heard like this. After all, it was their fault this memorial exists. The girls simply followed allowed along, despite saying they wanted to be there. And Akagi simply gripped the box she was holding tighter.
The time spent in the central area wasn't long and they were moving on in no time. The next was going to be difficult, Ryan knew. He had spoken to Bremerton yesterday who told him about traumas certain shipgirls have that they obtained from their service. Most girls learned to deal with it over time, but those things never go away. He knew that personally. So, he braced for what came next. And what came next was just in the next room.
She could barely even keep herself in check as she saw them. 1,102 names. They were all here. She stopped at the center of the room as her eyes remained locked onto the marble wall.
TO THE MEMORY OF THE GALLANT MEN
HERE ENTOMBED AND THEIR SHIPMATES
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN ACTION
ON DECEMBER 7, 1941 ON THE U.S.S. ARIZONA
They were here.
They've always been here.
They've been waiting.
Waiting so long.
And she's finally back. She's finally together with them again.
Them…
Souls.
Men.
Crew.
Her crew.
The crew she had loved with all her being.
And the crew she had failed—
"ARI!"
"Miss Arizona!"
The brunette battleship crashed onto the smooth floor as her legs finally gave way. She was hyperventilating with pressures as strong as her boilers. Her heart was pounding with the force of her guns. Her whole body was shaking, as if she was being constantly peppered by ordnance. Then her vision was blurring as tears welled up in her eyes as if she was submerged. And then she suddenly found it hard to breathe, as if she was drowning…
Drowning…
Drowning…
Drowning…
"I remember you."
She remembers them. All of them. She remembers all their antics as she sailed across the world. How they would play around while scrubbing their decks. How they would do sack races just to pass the time. How they would engage in pointless fights over the stupidest things and laugh about it after.
She remembers them.
All of them.
Their faces.
Their smiles.
Their laughs…
And she also remembers that day…
Their faces.
Their cries.
Their screams.
Laughs and jovial shouts of men across her decks were replaced by their frantic yells, blood-curdling screams, and silent gurgling as they called for help, burned, or drowned. It happened so quickly and so suddenly that no one knew what to do. They never saw it coming. It was like the whole world was falling apart. And it did fall apart for her. Because that would be the day she would lose it all…
And tonight, Arizona did not know what to do but pour her heart out. It started as low gasps before quickly intensifying into guttural wails. And that's the only thing she did for what felt like hours as the others in the room with her simply looked on in silence and sympathy. And even though she was venting out all of her inner despair, she was happy. Finally happy. Finally back…
Ryan approached and knelt down beside her before placing a hand on her shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze as she continued to cry.
"We've had a hell of a time waiting for you, Miss Arizona, I know they have. You've been gone for a long time, hehe," He told her with a light chuckle. "But every second of it was worth it because you're here now again. And now that you're back, they can finally know peace. You can finally know peace."
Although she wailed uncontrollably, she could still hear every word that he said. And it all filled her with more joy than anything else for the years she's been a Kansen. Especially when he uttered the words that she had been hoping to hear for so long.
"Welcome home, Arizona. It's great to have you back with us."
She was home.
Finally.
Arizona would cry for thirty minutes straight until she lost all her voice and energy. Now, she simply knelt inanimately while breathing slowly and keeping her eyes on the ground. Pennsylvania and Missouri were flanking her to act as support while the others maintained a respectful distance while remaining vigilant in case something happened. Ryan had also asked to get a stretcher prepared in case she passes out and needs to be carried back.
"You know, I knew this would happen," Ryan whispered earning a glance from Enterprise.
"Oh?" She said in a similar volume.
"I knew you girls also suffer trauma, so as we were heading back I tried imagining what could possibly be in Arizona's mind so I can prepare for it," He replied and sighed. "Needless to say, I was completely unprepared. Now I feel bad."
"According to articles I've read and Bremerton, everybody has a different thought process and response to these kinds of things. You can never know how someone will act," She stated.
"Yeah, but it's my job to anticipate these things. So I still feel bad," He frowned and sighed exhaustedly. "Hey, Enterprise?"
"Hmm?"
"If you've ever got any issues, even if it's tiny, you can come to me alright? I'll help you out," He said and shrugged. "Well, maybe not but I'll still try."
From the corner of his eyes, he saw her smile. "Thanks. I'll take note of that."
"Mhmm."
Then just a moment later, Arizona slowly stood up from her kneeling position and faced the wall. She brought her hands together, spoke something no one else heard, and made a sign of the cross. Then she spun on her heel to face the crowd before walking towards them, specifically, a certain carrier.
"Arizona-san, are you alright?" Hiryuu asked with genuine concern as she watched her approach. She was upset at seeing someone she considered a friend cry so much, so she wanted to know if she was okay. "Listen, you don't have to push—"
She was cut off when the battleship dashed forward in the blink of an eye before delivering the heaviest right hook she can muster at her face. It was like one of her full 14-inch broadsides. It was a hit so powerful, Hiryuu went flying before hitting the wall behind her and collapsing to the floor. Pennsylvania and Missouri immediately restrained Arizona and pulled her away while the Kidō Butai moved to protect their comrade.
"Jesus fucking Christ, Ari!" Pennsylvania yelled. "What the hell?!"
"Hiryuu, are you alright?!" Souryuu demanded as she knelt down beside her sister.
"Hey! Hey! Calm down! Everybody, please calm down!" Ryan demanded as he got in between the group with the help of Belfast and Enterprise.
Arizona did not resist when they pulled her away nor did she react when she was yelled at, only keeping her breathing steady and her eyes locked onto Hiryuu. Similarly, Hiryuu was getting up on her own despite the throbbing pain on her left cheek where she was hit. The carrier winced when it stung before spitting out a bloody tooth on her hand. And despite that, she just shrugged.
"Yep. I had that coming," She simply said before looking up and seeing the murderous look the battleship was giving her. She then pushed herself up before bowing lowly.
"Hiryuu?" Souryuu questioned.
"I've said it before and I'll say it again, I am sorry with all my heart, for dropping the bomb and killing you. I was bound by my duty, but that does not make it right," She said sincerely before straightening up. "But I want to know, why? I thought we already sorted this out?"
Arizona did not immediately, having to pull herself together first. She shook herself off of Penny and Mo before speaking.
"I did… I forgave you for killing me," She said before looking up with bloodshot eyes from all her sobbing. "... But… I did not forgive you for killing my crew… And I'm afraid… I never can..."
There was only silence for a few moments as they allowed her words to sink in. Hiyuu then closed her eyes and swallowed the lump in her throat before opening them again and smiling sadly.
"That's alright, I figured you'd hate me because of that," She said. "But, in any case, I'm still sorry for everything. And, I don't want to be your enemy. The war is over, right? You won't put this behind you, but I want to be at least on non-hostile terms. If you'll have me, that is."
More silence ensued while Arizona simply stared at her with a neutral expression as she contemplated things. No one can figure out what was going on in that mind of hers, so all they could do was brace. Finally, she spoke.
"Alright. I can accept that" She said.
Hiryuu smiled a bit more and extended a hand. "Then here's to a new beginning, Arizona-san."
The battleship seemed to lighten up as she smiled too before taking her hand and shaking it.
"Sure thing."
The friendly moment finally allowed the rest of them to relax. Ryan audibly sighed, glad that the problem seemed to have mostly taken care of itself. He was afraid he had to resort to drastic measures back there.
"God, even at port, I'm gonna die from the stress," He muttered under his breath as he rubbed his face. "Arizona's crew, save me a spot and a cold one, will 'ya?"
"Aw, come on, Commander. Quit being so dramatic," Enterprise chastised. Although, she was quite amused by him.
"Excuse me, Arizona-san?"
Arizona let go of Hiryuu's hand and turned to the voice to see Akagi facing her. She was also still clutching that box since earlier. Wonder what's up with that?
"Yes?"
"If you'll allow it, we'd like to offer a prayer for your shrine," Akagi said. "I know our faiths are different, but we'd like to do this as an expression of goodwill."
Arizona an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"Truthfully, I don't regret a single thing I've done. I've served my nation proudly and I will do it again. Just like you, and just like her," She said, pointing at her and Enterprise.
"Heh, yeah," Arizona agreed.
"But despite that, I believe that the dead deserve their peace. So after speaking with the rest of the fleet, we decided to offer a prayer for your crew, and perhaps every life taken during the war. So, will you allow us?"
Arizona turned away from Akagi for a moment to look at the other carriers and saw similar looks on their faces. They were all serious about it and all of them wanted to show their respect. How can she refuse?
"Alright, go ahead. I trust you," She said, gesturing to the wall of names.
Akagi bowed. "Arigatou, Arizona-san."
The Kidō Butai all stepped forward and knelt down before the wall in formation. Akagi placed the box down beside her before opening it and revealing a complete incense set. She placed the holder before her and put a single stick on it. She then lit the stick and let it burn, allowing the fragrance to fill the room and put them at ease. And finally, they brought their hands together and started praying. Shintoism does not have a specific prayer for the dead. They believe that certain words have stronger meanings and spiritual power if used as part of a prayer. So, the girls simply made something up during the journey here and prayed in silence. Their prayer would last for about ten minutes before they got back up and retreated.
"Thank you for that, Akagi and everyone. It means a lot," Arizona told them.
She smiled. "We're equally grateful, Arizona-san."
And with that, their business in the memorial was concluded and it was time to head back. As they exited the place, Arizona felt lighter, as if a huge weight was lifted from her shoulders after so long. Now, she can be free too.
"By the way, Arizona, what do you think about what we've done with the place?" Ryan asked.
She smiled as she gave her answer. "It's wonderful. I'm sure they think so too. Thank you very much."
"Whoa, you're all still here?"
After leaving the memorial and sailing back, they would simply call it a night and head home. Ryan had assumed they were all tired and would immediately look for a bed to crash on. So, he was quite surprised to see everyone still waiting by the pier. Although a part of him told him he shouldn't have been.
"Did you really think we'd just up and leave without some closing remark from our CO?" Cleveland asked.
"It's midnight, I thought you're all exhausted."
"Well, we could just use this as an excuse to sleep in tomorrow," She replied slyly.
"You could, but I could also add to your workload to compensate," he laughed. "Is it really just that?"
"It's tradition, sir."
"Alright then. I'm pretty tired too, so I'll get to the point," He began with a sigh. "So, you know you're back in the over world. And you also know that the Sirens are here too. Due to the nature of your arrival and the illegitimacy of your status, we can just force you to work for us. But that's not right, I refuse to do something so terrible.
"I've been studying naval history since I was a kid. Believe me when I say that I know what most of you have gone through. You're practically veterans. You've all sacrificed so much to serve your nation and no one has a right to ask any more from you.
"I hate to do this, but it's the responsibility I carry with this rank. I must ask you, will you serve your nation once again? We're caught in a crossroads here and this is an enemy we never would have imagined we would face. Countless lives are at stake and we're essentially fighting blindly. Your experience in fighting the Sirens will be extremely important to us.
"If you work for us, I promise that we will take care of you. However, I don't want any of you to feel forced. If you don't want to work with us for whatever reason, then that's fine. We'll still conceal your identity and watch you closely per protocol, but your basic freedoms will be respected. Besides, I will not accept conscripts in my fleet, only volunteers.
"So, with all of that in mind, what do you say?"
Everybody remained quiet as they allowed his speech to sink in. Ryan slowly started to get nervous, he was never the best speaker. What's more, he was a bit exhausted, so he probably screwed up the speech. He just hopes half of them would join.
"I'm kinda disappointed, Commander," Arizona suddenly said.
"Huh?"
"You of all people should know the answer to that," Missouri said with a smirk.
"Perhaps, but I want to hear it from your own mouths," He retorted, now slightly annoyed.
"Of course, we'll work with you, Commander!" Baltimore said. "We're warships, it's what we do!"
"Besides, we'll never turn our backs on America! We love this country too much!" Bremerton added, enthusiastically.
"Not to mention ten grand per month with a chance for a raise. It's a steal," Wasp added, earning laughs from a lot of them.
"Indeed," He chuckled and turned to a certain group. "What about the non-Americans? By the way, your home countries, who are now our allies, are also working on their own solutions to the Siren problem. Sooner or later, they'll ask for you and we'll give you back. But in the meantime, you're stuck with us."
It took another minute of silence as they thought about their answers before speaking.
"Amagi-nee-sama trusts you, so I will, Shikikan-sama," Akagi answered with a small smile and bow. "The Kidō Butai shall commit to the protection of this place."
The rest of the Japanese girls agreed which prompted the others to agree too.
"Warspite and Wales trust you, so I shall do the same, Commander," Barnham said.
"You managed to tame my Schwester, that in itself is an accomplishment. I'll fight alongside you, Herr Kommandant. Just keep the bier plentiful," Prinz Eugen said with a teasing smirk through her sister's embarrassed protest.
"Heh, sure thing," He said and smiled. "Alright then. You're all now officially part of the United States Navy Kansen Command, the first step toward victory. Welcome aboard, girls, your help will be indispensable. And welcome to the United States of America, your service will never be forgotten."
The girls cheered as they were once again commissioned into service. It felt great to belong. But now, their greatest trials await which will also shake the whole world to its core. The real battle has only just begun, but they are ready to fight with all they had.
The Commander finally pulled out the cigar he was given earlier out of his jacket before popping it into his mouth and lighting it. He took a in few puffs, letting the sweet nicotine calm his nerves. Cuban, his beloved. That's the good shit right there. He then looked around at the group of girls who were still somehow fired up despite it being so late.
We'll be fine, Ryan thought with a smile. I've got the greatest fleet right here.
AN: Hey guys! I'm very sorry that I took so long to update. Long story short, I'm in college studying engineering and I am suffering. That and I got sidetracked because of Oshi no Ko, lol. Speaking of which, I'm also writing a story over there in tandem with this. So, updates will remain slow, sorry.
This chapter was something I've been envisioning since I began this story, so I'm pretty happy about it. But, I'm not exactly sure if what I wrote was appropriate or not. It was good in my head, but I'm not sure if it's good in reality. If it was inappropriate, I'm very sorry, and I'm also because I can't take it down now, but I will refrain from doing it again in the future.
Also, regarding chapters and writing styles. Since the beginning, I've been writing in a style similar to the Tom Clancy novels, but that's because of all the technical stuff, but I will also write lighthearted things to not make this story so suffocating. So basically, the themes and atmosphere will be doing rollercoasters as our favorite commanders and wonderful shipgirls take on the world.
And I said commanders, with an 's'. America won't be the only country in this show. Azur Lane is international remember? This chapter was supposed to have more to it, but I decided to cut it for the future because it's already gotten so long. This just broke my record for the longest chapter again.
And finally, I want to thank all of you who have decided to support this story. Worlds Collide has officially become my most popular story with 166 favorites and 224 followers here on. And because of that, I feel compelled to see this to the end, unlike my other stories which didn't do so well. Your support means a lot to me.
This story is also now on AO3 if you want to see it there.
Anyway, thank you very much for reading my story! Please tell me what you think in the review section or if you have any suggestions! I'm open to ideas! And that's all for now and I'll see you in the next one, peace out!
